A visibly dejected Ian Wright spoke about his “tough week” following the controversy with his former England teammate, Eni Aluko. This comes after Steph Houghton publicly offered her support for Wright regarding the dispute.
The backlash against former Chelsea player Aluko began after she suggested that Arsenal legend Wright was hindering opportunities within women`s football.
After facing significant criticism for her remarks, Aluko retracted her comments and issued an apology to Wright. Wright is widely acknowledged as a strong supporter of the women`s game, having advocated for it long before its recent surge in popularity.
Wright, a popular figure, did not accept Aluko`s apology, stating instead that it was best to “move on” from the incident.
Following the events, Aluko has also withdrawn from her hosting duties for the Women`s Football Awards.
On a recent episode of their YouTube podcast “Crossways,” which focuses on women`s football, Wright and Houghton discussed the challenging period.
Speaking openly, a downcast Wright commented: “It`s been a bit of an up-and-down week. But at the end of the day, it’s all sorted.” He added, “It’s always good to see you Steph, because you make me smile. It’s been quite a tough week.”
Houghton, who played alongside Aluko for England, then took a public stance in support of Wright, expressing her gratitude for his dedication to the women`s game.
She told him: “Ian, can I just say this, and this has not been pre-empted… What you have done for our game is unbelievable and you’ve got to take all the credit that everybody’s thrown at you this week because you are a super hero. And I love working with you.”
Wright visibly brightened at Houghton`s words, replying: “I love you Steph. To see you come out publicly like that for me is just nice.” He continued, emphasizing the broader context, “But I just wish, it’s not about the individual in the women’s game, it’s just about the collective.” He concluded by saying, “I’m not going to go into it but I just really appreciate the public support that I got.”
