A dejected Ian Wright recently spoke about experiencing a `tough week,` shortly before Steph Houghton publicly supported him in the controversy involving her former England teammate Eni Aluko.
Former Chelsea player Eni Aluko faced significant backlash after alleging that Arsenal icon Ian Wright was “blocking opportunities” within women`s football.
Following widespread criticism, Aluko retracted her statement and issued an apology to Wright, who is widely recognized as a strong supporter of the women`s game, even prior to its recent growth.
Wright, a fan favourite, declined to accept Aluko’s apology, stating it was best to “move on.” Subsequently, Aluko withdrew from her hosting role at the Women`s Football Awards.
Ian Wright has now received public endorsement from England women`s notable figure, Steph Houghton.
Wright and Houghton co-host the `Crossways` podcast on YouTube, where they discuss various aspects of women`s football.
During a recent episode, Wright spoke about the difficult time, stating: “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, a former teammate of Aluko for the Lionesses, publicly supported Wright during this discussion, thanking him for his contributions to women`s football.
“Ian, can I just say this, and this has not been pre-empted, I think I posted on Instagram. 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 responded with visible pleasure: “I love you Steph. To see you come out publicly like that for me is just nice.”
He concluded by saying: “But I just wish, it’s not about the individual in the women’s game, it’s just about the collective. I’m not going to go into it but I just really appreciate the public support that I got.”
