Eni Aluko says men have taken over women’s football

Eni Aluko says men have begun “dominating” coaching and broadcasting within women’s football since she became Match of the Day’s first female pundit.

A decade on from smashing through one of the remaining glass ceilings in the men’s game, Aluko lamented how the sport had subsequently “gone backwards” in key areas.

The former Chelsea and England star used her LinkedIn profile to dissect the state of female involvement in coaching and broadcasting in response to a post celebrating 10 years since her debut on the BBC’s flagship football programme.

That post, from talent agency Tongue Tied Management, read: “10 years ago today Eniola Aluko MBE made history becoming the first woman to be a pundit on Match of the Day.

“As an agency we had pushed for this for years and Tongue Tied Management’s very own Jo Tongue MBE was working hard behind the scenes to make this happen.

“Since then Eni has paved the way for female involvement in the men’s game in both punditry and on commentary. A huge shout out to BBC, ITV, Sky, Amazon Prime, and TNT Sports for continuing to support women in the men’s game.

“There is still a long way to go but we are so proud of what Eni has achieved so far.”

Aluko responded by writing: “Forever grateful to Jo Tongue MBE & Tongue Tied Management for the love and respect acknowledging 10 years since making my first appearance on Match of the Day as the first female footballer to appear on MOTD. Jo and I believed that women should have a prominent voice in football.

“I would love to be able to say in 10 years we’ve progressed in terms of women in football broadcasting. In some ways we have gone backwards.”

Aluko then proceeded to list where the game was falling short: “1. There are still only one or two maximum regular punditry spots for women across several broadcasters. Fyi Pundits and Presenters are two different roles.

“2. Men are now dominating broadcasting (and coaching) in the women’s game because more money has become available. This includes male agents with exploitative financially driven agendas within women’s football demanding 20 per cent commissions from salaries that are nowhere near the level of the men’s game. Women can never dominate the men’s game in the same way.

“3. Sexism, misogyny and racism is still widespread within football fan culture. Some football broadcasters need to rapidly improve their duty of care towards pundits who receive such abuse. Sexism, misogyny, racism are not ‘part of the job’.

“There is still a long way to go.”

Aluko is a regular victim of racist and misogynistic abuse on social media. Joey Barton will stand trial next year charged with a malicious communications offence towards Aluko. Barton pleaded not guilty to the charge related to X posts comparing her and fellow female pundit Lucy Ward to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West.

Aluko also sued Barton for alleged defamation following the posts.