Eni Aluko sat down with the Chair of the 'Chelsea Pride' supporters group to discuss the 'transphobic post' she retweeted from JK Rowling. 

The former footballer was criticised for sharing Rowling's tweet which appeared to speak about 'mediocre males' participating in 'women's sport'.

Aluko apologised for re-sharing Rowling's tweet and labelled the incident as a 'misunderstanding', claiming she 'did not interpret it as transphobia'. 

Aluko insisted she and the Chelsea LGBTQ supporters group were 'aligned and together in the fight against any form of discrimination'. 

She took to X to write: 'I've now had a really cool conversation with Tracy, Chair at Chelsea pride supporters group. It's all love and support both ways.

Eni Aluko sat down with the Chair of the 'Chelsea Pride' supporters group to discuss the 'transphobic post' she retweeted from JK Rowling

'A misunderstanding on my part of the JK Rowling tweet which I retweeted only because of its references to women being abused for speaking up for their rights.

'I did not interpret it as transphobia and I am not in support of transphobia.

'We are aligned and together against any form of discrimination including transphobia. Chelsea together. #NoToHate'. 

Aluko's statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, came shortly after she shared Rowling's controversial tweet.  

The Harry Potter author Rowling has been a vocal critic of the transgender movement and has clashed with activists online over her staunch views.

Rowling's views recently led to an outcry for her to be investigated under Scotland's new hate crime rules.

Rowling was referred to Scottish police for referring to a number of transgender women including campaigners, convicted prisoners and celebrities as 'men' in a range of tweets.

Scottish police later confirmed that no action would be taken against the famed British writer after she challenged new hate legislation - leaving the LGBTQ community frustrated. 

Rowling quoted a comment which read ‘I don’t think it is nice to call trans women “men”’. 

She responded by saying: 'I don't think it's nice to lock rapists in with female prisoners, allow mediocre males to participate in women's and girls' sport, or for women to get death and rape threats for speaking up for their rights.

'When you've stopped all that happening, we can talk "nice."'

Chelsea Pride, the club's LGBTQI+ supporter group, stated it was 'extremely disappointing to see a former player sharing transphobic posts'.

The group highlighted Aluko's recent comments advocating for equality.

‘Advocating for equality necessitates rejecting all forms of discrimination, including transphobia,' a Chelsea Pride statement read.

‘Embracing equality means championing the rights and dignity of every individual without exception.

‘Equality is a universal principle that applies to all, unequivocally. So being transphobic contradicts the principles of equality and inclusivity.’

Aluko, who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea across two spells at the club, has been outspoken about 'daily casual racism, sexism and misogyny' in the sport.

The former England international, who won 102 caps during her playing career, sensationally claimed this week that the men's game in this country 'not a safe place for women'.

She insisted that there are safety concerns both physically, in stadiums, as well as on social media.

Aluko has suffered a torrent of abuse on social media, most prominently from Joey Barton. The former Manchester City midfielder has made a number of sexist rants against several female former players, pundits and commentators having a role in the coverage and analysis of men's football in recent months.

'I say it all the time,' Aluko began on The Sports Agents podcast. 'Men's football in this country is still not a safe place for women.

'Whether you're the wife of an average football fan who loves football or you're me who works in professional broadcasting, it's not a safe space. It's not a safe space physically going to a stadium and it's not a safe space on online.

'So when we look at the next generation of young girls who are alive to football because of the Lionesses and who likely want to get into football, whether they play or work behind the scenes.

'What would make them want to do that when there's daily casual racism, sexism, misogyny toward the women at the top.

'I just refuse to now to sit back and go "Oh, it's part of the job," I can't do that anymore. For me, I'm talking to government, how are we going to create laws so that this is not so easy.'

In February, Aluko hit out at social media firm X, claiming the platform 'allows people to vomit their hatred unchecked' after being verbally attacked by Barton.

Among his shocking rebukes was calling her and Lucy Ward 'the Fred and Rose West of football commentary' in a reference to the two infamous serial killers - while Alex Scott and England keeper Mary Earps have also been targeted in his posts.

He also bizarrely alleged that Aluko and her family used 'dodgy money' to pay for a lavish lifestyle.

After receiving support from ITV - with whom she regularly works as a pundit - Aluko revealed that she had taken legal action against Barton, while also claiming she left the UK due to being 'genuinely scared' for her safety following his comments.

'It's scary how easy it is on social media to just attack women,' she added. 'Misogyny is not even a hate crime at this moment in time but there's so much online.

'Unfortunately football is a sort of access point for a lot of that. I think it's the last bastion of what people consider to be a male only space.

'It has been for a long time a space where men have been able to express themselves freely without the gaze of women and all of this stuff.

'The reality is that football has always been for everyone and now women are becoming much more part of it but I feel the backlash is getting worse.'