Aluko Pulls Out Of Awards Role After Wright Criticism

Former England striker Eni Aluko has pulled retired of a presenting domiciled astatine this week's Women's Football Awards pursuing her disapproval of chap pundit Ian Wright.

The 38-year-old criticised Wright past week, saying he should beryllium alert location were "only a finite magnitude of opportunities" for female pundits moving successful women's football.

Former Chelsea striker Aluko has since apologised for her comments, but Wright said he "cannot accept" nan apology and was "very disappointed" by what was said.

The Arsenal icon and erstwhile England guardant has been a semipermanent advocator of nan women's game, moving regularly arsenic a pundit pinch a attraction connected Lionesses matches, and received wide support pursuing nan criticism.

Against this backdrop, Aluko will not co-present nan awards, alongside Gabby Logan and Jamie Carragher, to not "deflect" attraction distant from nan nominees successful London connected 1 May.

"I've decided to return a measurement backmost from being portion of nan hosting line-up this year," she said.

"I don't want to deflect from nan joy, recognition, and ceremony that this arena is each about. This arena belongs to nan players, coaches, fans and everyone who has worked tirelessly to elevate nan women's game."

Wright's Instagram station successful consequence to Aluko's comments has been liked much than 137,000 times, including by England women's players Mary Earps, Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood.

The 61-year-old said he will "always" effort to springiness backmost to nan crippled of shot aft a 15-year master profession that started astatine Crystal Palace successful 1985.

"Because of nan past, wherever men blocked nan women's crippled for 50 years, nan crippled has superior systemic challenges and it is going to return everyone to thief hole it," added Wright, who has worked alongside Aluko.

"We are nan state that invented modern shot truthful we person a work to lead nan measurement successful women's football.

"For me, I will ever springiness backmost to nan game. It has fixed maine truthful much."