Former England Striker Eni Aluko Fears for Safety After Online Abuse

Former England forward Eni Aluko has spoken out about the online abuse she has received, expressing genuine fear for her safety. Aluko, who previously played for Manchester City and retired from football in 2020, revealed that she had been targeted with abusive comments after ex-footballer Joey Barton compared her and her co-commentator Lucy Ward to notorious serial killers Fred and Rose West.

The abuse led Aluko to feel threatened and scared, to the point where she didn’t leave her house for several days. She emphasized the real-world impact of online abuse on a person’s safety and well-being.

In response to Barton’s comments, ITV, where Aluko works as a pundit, lashed out at his “vindictive remarks” and condemned his use of derogatory language and references to serial killers. The sports minister, Stuart Andrew, echoed ITV’s sentiment, stating that such dangerous comments open the floodgates for further abuse.

Aluko revealed that her experience is not an isolated incident and that online abuse is becoming a pervasive culture within certain fan bases in the game. She stressed the detrimental impact this has on mental health and the overall well-being of female individuals in football.

Following Barton’s comments, the situation escalated further, fueling additional abuse towards Aluko. Despite the negative experiences, Aluko intends to take legal action to address the situation and combat online abuse.

Eni Aluko, a former England international, had an illustrious career representing her country and winning numerous trophies, including four Women's FA Cups and three Women's Super League titles.