Former England international Eni Aluko has levelled an accusation of "gaslighting" against presenter Laura Woods amid an escalating public dispute between the pair.
The row centres on ITV's pundit choices for the Women's Euros, with Aluko having questioned why she and fellow former Lioness Farah Williams were omitted from the broadcaster's coverage of last summer's Euro final.
Woods, who presents for both ITV and TNT Sports, responded to Aluko's remarks through a series of posts on X, sparking a war of words that has since drawn in other prominent media figures.
The disagreement has intensified following Aluko's proposal that male pundits should occupy supporting roles rather than lead positions in women's football coverage.
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Aluko's original comments centred on her belief that she and Williams, both highly experienced former internationals, should have been selected for ITV's panel during the showpiece match of the tournament.
The pundit has advocated for a restructuring of how women's football is presented on television, arguing that female experts should take precedence over their male counterparts.
Her position sparked immediate criticism from Woods, who took to social media to challenge Aluko's stance publicly.
Eni Aluko revealed she used to enjoy a close working relationship with Laura Woods
|talkSPORT
The exchange quickly escalated when Aluko appeared on talkSPORT to discuss the controversy, leading to a heated confrontation with the station's host Simon Jordan that brought further attention to the dispute.
Jordan delivered a withering assessment of Aluko's credentials and conduct.
"I don't think you are particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic," Jordan told her.
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Five facts about the Premier League | GETTY/GBNEWS/PA"The language that you use is, to me, it's steeped in the sense of entitlement."
The former Crystal Palace chairman continued his attack, declaring: "The sheer weight of the entitlement you seem to believe you have would sink the weight of the Titanic. I think you have been quite fortuitous."
Jordan then suggested that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives had benefited Aluko's broadcasting career beyond her abilities.
"I think because of initiatives like DEI, they've allowed people to be put into positions in the men's game that I don't think they've merited," he said.
Aluko responded by revealing that she and Woods had previously enjoyed a close working relationship, making the public criticism all the more surprising.
"Laura was actually one of the people I would consistently go to. We got on like a house on fire," Aluko said.
Simon Jordan has ripped into Eni Aluko, insisting she's not 'particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic', while sat next to the former England Lionesses star | talkSPORT"I had to look at the messages and think 'hang on, I feel a bit gaslight here'."
Aluko subsequently clarified her position, acknowledging that international caps represent significant experience and insight, whilst maintaining that such credentials alone do not guarantee a punditry role.
She argued that women should serve as the primary faces of women's sport, with male pundits such as Ian Wright providing supplementary contributions rather than occupying central panel positions.
Wright and Woods are yet to respond.