- Fake quotes attributed to Eni Aluko were shared on social media last week
- Aluko threatened legal action, leading to apologies from multiple accounts
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Multiple football accounts have issued public apologies to ITV pundit Eni Aluko after being threatened with legal action for faking quotes that went viral on social media last week.
The quotes attributed to Aluko, 37, claimed the pundit had said women should play in the Premier League.
The post that was shared across social media read: ‘Eni Aluko on women’s football: The ladies have proven they are more than equal to the men’s game.
‘You just have to look at our amazing Lionesses, they put the men’s team to shame. Our girls should be given a chance in the men’s Premier League, they would easily hold their own.’
Aluko responded on X with screenshots of the posts alongside the message: ‘Accounts using fake quotes with my name and image will be contacted and subject to legal action’.
Eni Aluko (pictured) threatened legal action against multiple social media accounts for faking quotes and attributing them to her
Quotes attributed to Aluko claimed she had said women should play in the Premier League
Aluko said she was willing to take legal action and tagged multiple football accounts
She also tagged three accounts – @FootballFunnnys, @fsmofficialTW and @BeWarmers – in her response to the fake quotes.
All three accounts have since apologised for spreading fake quotes.
BeWarmers wrote on Instagram: ‘Apologies to Eniola Aluko as we misquoted her during the week with a fake quote, seen online. Keep up the good work in the football world’.
FootballSoccerMeme issued their own statement, which read: ‘Big apologies to Eniola Aluko as we misquoted her during the week with a fake quote that went viral, seen on numerous other pages. Keep up the good work in the football world’.
In a separate X post, FSM also wrote: ‘We apologise, immediately deleted @EniAlu’.
FootballFunnnys posted on X: ‘Hi @EniAlu we’re really sorry. Have immediately deleted the offending post’.
Aluko reposted FootballFunnnys apology alongside the response: ‘I appreciate the public apology. Big lesson for the fans in the comments with one brain cell between them disparaging my name – don’t get excited. It usually ends in tears for fools who think they can get away with it’.
The former England star also posted her fury at another social media account – @FootballFactly.
Aluko called for the post to be deleted and a public apology from one social media account, but the post remains on their account and an apology has not been made on X
‘@FootballFactly – you have nearly half a million followers and are dumb enough to post fake news/fake quotes.
‘This needs to be deleted immediately and replaced with a public apology to avoid legal action.’
The post remains on Football Factly’s X account, and a public apology is yet to be made on social media.
Aluko also hit the headlines earlier this year after former player Joey Barton compared her and fellow female pundit Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Barton was charged with alleged ‘malicious communications towards Aluko’ in July, but pleaded not guilty when he appeared in Warrington magistrates court the following week.
Barton is now set to face trial next year.
Aluko also sparked controversy in April when she claimed UK stadiums are ‘not safe for women’.
She insisted it was not safe for females travelling to stadiums or online, but her comments received backlash from some women who claimed Aluko ‘doesn’t speak for me or my family’.
Aluko has worked as a pundit for ITV for several years, and has been part of their coverage for the latest editions of the men’s and women’s World Cup, as well as Euro 2024 earlier this summer.
