Sports
Lip Reader Reveals What Simon Jordan Told Eni Aluko in Ad-Break
Former footballer turned pundit Eni Aluko made headlines this week when she accused Ian Wright of “blocking” opportunities for female broadcasters on television. She claimed that the iconic ex-Arsenal and England star is “dominating” the women’s game.
It’s not the first time she’s voiced her frustration with Wright, with the former Lioness speaking out in a similar manner in April last year. She later apologised for her comments, but the male pundit wasn’t willing to accept this, stating that he was “disappointed” with how she had behaved.
Simon Jordan’s Fiery Exchange With Eni Aluko
Her recent comments have once again sparked a huge reaction from within the football world, and Aluko was invited on TalkSport to discuss her argument with host Simon Jordan.
Needless to say, it was a rather explosive interview that followed, with Jordan more than willing to give his take on the matter, as he was less than complimentary about Aluko’s credentials as a pundit. She had questioned why the likes of Wright and Nedum Onuoha had been given more media opportunities than her, when she’d achieved so much in the women’s game, like winning 102 England caps.
Jordan’s tone of argument can best be summed up by his withering comment, as he told Aluko: “The sheer weight of self-entitlement you seem to have would sink the titanic.”
Jordan did agree with Aluko’s idea to have the main pundit roles go to women for women’s football coverage and vice versa, but his more scathing comments about her ability as a pundit did seem to take her back. She said, “It’s an opinion, which we’re all entitled to. I put value on them, everybody has them.”
She also added: “I appreciate what you’re saying, but in reality, I’ve been good enough for 11 years and as I said, I’m the person to go and seek out feedback, for someone to go: ‘I think you’re struggling’…it’s never happened.”
At one point in the midst of the fiery show, the programme cut to an ad break. As it returned, Jordan could be seen angrily gesticulating towards Aluko, who appeared to pull a face before turning her head away from the former Crystal Palace chairman.
Expert lip reader Jeremy Freeman has now revealed, via the Daily Mail, some of what was said during that exchange. According to him, Jordan said:
“But nobody cares, drop this. It’s definitely you. I know it. I know.”
However, the lip reader was not able to be sure on what Aluko said in response.
What Eni Aluko Said About Roy Keane Looks Interesting Now Amid Ian Wright Row
Ian Wright and Roy Keane are known to be close friends, making Eni Aluko’s feelings about the latter very interesting now.
Aluko Blames Wright For Public ‘Pile-on’
In particular, Aluko’s secondary wave of comments on Wright appears to be born out of a frustration with the Englishman for not accepting her apology. She claimed that this led to a pile-on, noting:
“When I apologised to Ian Wright publicly and privately he had an opportunity to show the grace and the allyship that he showed to many other people. And to prove that he’s the ally that everybody says he is.
“Unfortunately, my sincerity, my humility, was met with disrespect. Where he said, ‘I don’t accept your apology’. And he green-lit all of these people to pile on.”
Aluko then revealed how her mother was confronted by the press and accused the media of breaking into her private letterbox in the days that followed, citing the lack of an apology as the reason why she continues to speak about the problems today.
Jordan’s argument with Aluko centred more directly on her opportunities as a pundit. He made it clear that he simply doesn’t think she’s deserving of more work, noting:
“As far as expertise is concerned, the times that I’ve listened to her – I don’t think that she’s particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic. I don’t think she comes across particularly likeable but that’s my view, but some people have the same view of me.”
Sports
Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Makes Feelings Clear After Austin Theory Kiss
Professional wrestling star Kam Hendrix has spoken out following the recent viral footage of real-life wife and fellow wrestler Maxxine Dupri kissing Austin Theory.
The incident occurred on the latest episode of WWE Raw, following Theory’s triumph alongside The Vision partner Bron Breakker in the World Tag Team Championship match against The Street Profits in Rosemont, Illinois.
Theory and Breakker were looking to take down the reigning holders, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, and regain the crown from the same duo that snatched it from them a fortnight ago on Raw in London.
The Vision appeared to be on the cusp of defeat once more in the latest tag team title showdown, as Theory was set to be struck by Dawkins with brass knuckles late on in the contest.
The Vision member, Logan Paul, attempted to intervene at one point in the fight, but he was dismissed by the referee and could not stop what was appearing to be an inevitable defeat for his stablemates.
However, Dupri made a sudden appearance during the fight’s climax, stepping in to stop Theory getting hit and landing a low blow on Dawkins.
Maxxine Dupri Joins The Vision on Monday Night Raw
This dramatic intervention allowed Theory to pin down Dawkins and land the clinching move, making The Vision champions once more and ending The Street Profits’ short run as holders.
However, the drama did not stop there, as this is when Dupri was seen embracing Theory and sharing a kiss with him. The moment confirmed Dupri’s allegiance to The Vision and on-screen romance with Theory after much backstage speculation.
The viral moment caused many wrestling fans to question how Hendrix felt seeing his wife kiss Theory on the 6th of July Raw broadcast.
Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Responds to Kiss
Hendrix, whose real name is Anthony Luke, married Dupri, real name Sydney Zmrzel, last December after about seven years of dating.
It turns out Hendrix was not bothered in the slightest by the incident involving his wife and Theory, as his response on his official X account read: “Damn, didn’t realise how many people were jealous of Kam Hendrix! Feels kinda good, actually.”
Hendrix obviously understands the entertainment and scripted nature of professional wrestling, having been a member of WWE for two years now, so the matter involving Dupri will clearly not bother him.
WWE fans invested in The Vision’s story will be keen to know how Theory and Dupri’s on-screen romance develops and how it could play a part in future events.
Sports
Carli Lloyd Responds to Christian Pulisic ‘Rest’ Comment With Tweet
United States legend Carli Lloyd has reacted to an eyebrow-raising comment from USMNT star player Christian Pulisic with a brutal nine-word tweet.
Lloyd, the second-most capped player in USWNT history with 316 appearances between 2005-2021, didn’t hold back with her initial assessment of Pulisic after the USA were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
“You wanted some of the big time players to step up in big moments, and I’ve got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed in Christian Pulisic,” the 43-year-old said on FOX Sports. “I think, whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup.”
The pre-match build-up was overshadowed by FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend striker Folarin Balogun’s one-man ban, following his red card against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, but the USMTN failed to capitalise on their stroke of good fortune.
Pulisic was subbed off by head coach Mauricio Pochettino moments after Belgium had taken a 3-1 lead through Hans Vanaken. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal late on before replicating US President Donald Trump’s infamous dance moves alongside his teammates.
Lloyd has now doubled down on her criticism of Pulisic, who said after the USMNT’s 4-1 defeat: “I just twisted and sprained my ankle. It’s frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I get time to rest, so it’ll be okay.”
In response, Lloyd issued a blunt comment via X (Twitter). She wrote:
“You rest when your playing career is over. Period.”
While some USMNT fans are in complete agreement with Lloyd, left with a bitterly disappointed feeling that Pulisic didn’t do enough at this summer’s showpiece tournament, others feel it was a cheap shot.
One supporter replied: “I really enjoy watching you Carli, but this is one of your few bad takes. He’s resting to recover from an injury. He had an awful game, but I still remember him putting his body on the line to score the goal vs Iran in 2022 that got us out of the group.”
Another commented: “Former female athlete here, but honey THIS is not it. The behaviour of our women’s national team in response to this is actually disgusting. Not only are you making yourself look bad, but you’re making your entire team look bad and giving the haters that much more fuel against you.”
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Tim Howard Casts Pulisic Verdict After USMNT Defeat
Meanwhile, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard has cast his verdict over the backlash against Pulisic.
“To whom much is given, much is required,” the ex-Manchester United and Everton star said to fellow USA legend Landon Donovan. “He is the face of this team. He is undoubtedly its best player and when that happens you will receive all of the money and all of the acclaim, and you’ll receive all of the blame. That’s how it works.
“I hope for his sake that he isn’t on social media for the foreseeable future. He deserves a rest, he can go on holiday. There’s a dark side to fame and celebrity.
“I think he’s a nice footballer. I still think he’s the best player on the team. Outside of that, you’d have to ask me very direct questions, to which I could give very direct answers, but ultimately he’s a nice footballer.”
Sports
Football’s No Racism ‘X’ Gesture
Players competing at the 2026 World Cup were provided with a new, intervening signal ahead of the tournament: the “X” gesture.
Developing easily understood symbols and in-match protocols has been a major part of FIFA’s global football strategy in the 2020s. It is the football governing body’s approach to stamping out abuse and discrimination, and whilst a step in the right direction, it arguably still has room for improvement.
These types of incidents have the ability to completely overshadow matches or entire tournaments, and reflect FIFA’s desire to respond to and condemn unacceptable behaviour.
But what does the “X” gesture stand for and how is it aiding FIFA’s global campaign?
The crossed arms symbol in football effectively means ‘no to racism’ and was first discussed at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2024. The gesture itself was introduced at the 2024 Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and has now been used in other major tournaments.
The gesture is the latest advancement in FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism initiative. When brought up for discussion in Thailand in 2024, the symbol was unanimously approved by FIFA’s 211 Member Associations.
The No Racism gesture is designed to empower players, referees, and team officials, as well as providing a simple and standardised way of reporting racist abuse during a football match that immediately triggers FIFA’s anti-racism protocols.
How It Works
The victim crosses their arms at the wrist, and this will signal to a referee, match official, or team captain, that they are being targeted by racist abuse. This will prompt the referee to activate the three-step procedure.
- Step 1 prompts the referee to decide whether to stop the match or not. If the gesture is made to a match official, they will communicate the report of abuse to the referee and the need to potentially stop the match.
- Step 2, if required, will lead to a suspension of the match by the referee. This step will be activated if the incident does not stop upon the restart of the match. This continued behaviour results in the suspension of the match and the two teams being instructed to return to their dressing rooms. An announcement is then made at the venue to inform all attendees of the reason for the match suspension, and that if the abusive behaviour does not cease, the match will be abandoned entirely.
- Step 3, if the conditions are met, results in the match being abandoned. This happens if the incident does not cease upon the restart of the match. The referee will only make this decision following consultation with the relevant authorities present and when it is safe to do so.
Notable Incidents
The “X” gesture was back in the headlines during Argentina and Egypt’s 2026 World Cup Last 16 fixture. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan made the gesture multiple times toward referee François Letexier. It was alleged that racist insults from Argentina fans were hurled at the Egyptian bench during the celebrations for Enzo Fernández’s match-winning goal.
But instead of triggering the anti-racism three-step procedure, Letexier instead brandished a yellow card to Hassan for what was perceived as unacceptable touchline behaviour. It remains unclear whether Hassan was trying to report racist abuse.
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World Cup History Quiz
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Following the gesture, an Egyptian substitute and Hassan’s brother, Ibrahim, intervened. They put Hassan’s arms back down by his sides. Ibrahim Hassan’s thumbs-up gesture to the referee suggests that the Egypt coach was possibly misusing the gesture, which could result in a punishment from FIFA.
Referee François Letexier was coincidentally involved in another high-profile incident involving the “X” gesture earlier this year. During the Champions League knockout fixture between Real Madrid and Benfica, Vinicius Jr was allegedly targeted by racist abuse.
The Brazilian celebrated his 50th-minute goal at the Estádio da Luz with a dance by the corner flag, drawing angry responses from both Benfica players and fans. After alleging discriminatory abuse, Letexier threw up the “X” symbol before momentarily pausing the game. The fixture was stopped for almost 10 minutes.
During the stoppage, replays showed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni covering his mouth whilst saying something to Vinicius after his celebrations. The Real Madrid players contested Prestianni’s continued involvement in the fixture during the match stoppage, even leaving the pitch in protest.
The match eventually resumed in the 61st minute, but the incident clearly had a negative effect on the match’s atmosphere. Prestianni was eventually given a six-match ban for homophobic conduct. The ban would have been 10 matches had the abuse been of a racist nature.
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