London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Former England footballer Eni Aluko cries as she leaves court

Former England footballer Eni Aluko cries as she leaves court

Eni Aluko, 33, was reprimanded for leaving her hotel accommodation in Barbados and taking public transport on Friday despite her Covid-19 test results being delayed.

Former England footballer Eni Aluko wept outside a Barbados court on Saturday after she was let off for a breach of the country's quarantine rules following her arrival for a holiday.

Aluko, 33, was photographed on a bus by a member of the public who spread the image on social media and accused her of failing to remain in her hotel while awaiting the results of a coronavirus test performed at the airport

Visitors to Barbados from the UK are classed as 'medium risk' and required to arrive with a negative coronavirus test, or take a coronavirus test on arrival in the country and quarantine in a hotel until the results are available.

Ms Aluko admitted the charges of leaving the Little Arches hotel in Christ Church before learning the result of her test and was released with a reprimand in a Barbados court, according to local media.

The former footballer, who is now a pundit with the BBC and other broadcasters, called the episode a misunderstanding and told the court that she believed she had to wait a maximum of 12 hours, rather than until the results came through.

She later claimed on Twitter that she had followed all the rules before posting on Instagram, asking for people not to misjudge her true intentions.

If travellers arrive in Barbados with a negative coronavirus test result of the wrong type, they are required to take another one at the airport and await the results in their hotel.

She said: 'A misunderstanding that has now been fully resolved. I followed all the rules coming into Barbados and arrived with a negative Covid test result and did another test on arrival.



BBC pundit Eni Aluko (right) was in tears as she exited a courthouse in Barbados having been brought in for breaking her quarantine period as she awaited her Covid-19 test results


Aluko, 33, was tracked down by police after breaching her mandatory hotel quarantine


The former England international (left) came before a Magistrate who reminded her that she knew her actions were wrong to leave her hotel as she waited for her Covid-19 test results


Aluko posted on Instagram after the report asking for her true intentions not to be misjudged

'I understood that I would have to stay at the quarantine hotel for a maximum of 8-12 hours and would be informed of my result via my contact details after I waited 16 hours. The quarantine hotel were aware and did not prevent me from leaving wearing a protective mask.

'It was my misunderstanding and honest mistake which the Barbados authorities quite clearly understand, to the extent they refused to let me pay a fine which I offered for my honest mistake.

'This is my 2nd and last time in Barbados. An Island I love and appreciate. I'd now like to continue enjoying my holiday in peace.'

She was spotted after images surfaced on social media and was tracked down by Barbadian officials before being given a warning in court.

The BBC pundit had been charged with disobeying the order of the Chief Medical Officer and was left in tears as she was escorted out of court on Saturday

Aluko's results eventually came back negative for Covid-19 but at the time she left the Little Arches Hotel in Enterprise, Christ Church, that was undetermined and her actions were considered a risk to general population.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker left her hotel and rode the ZR - a private taxi-bus system that operates in Barbados. Local newspaper Nation News report that she initially pleaded not guilty before changing her plea.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick, who oversaw Aluko's hearing, warned the former England international that her venture out of the hotel placed others at risk.

Aluko said in her defence that she was confused by the rules on movement as she waited for her results, and she was not prevented from leaving by the hotel.

Barbados has recorded 138 Covid-19 cases and of those so far there have been 108 recoveries and seven deaths.


Aluko was said to be contrite in her statements as she spoke about her quarantine rule break


Aluko (right) was an international footballer for England and remains high-profile as a pundit



Aluko, England Women's 10th most-capped player, stayed at the five-star Little Arches Hotel, with prices starting at £228-a-night.

When questioned the BBC pundit accepted that she was aware that as a visitor to Barbados, she knew she was supposed to stay indoors until the Covid-19 test results came back.

'I came here on the basis that there were more relaxed rules,' Aluko was reported to have said in court by Barbadian publication Nation News.

'I love Barbados. I came here in 2015. I came here for vacation. I would never, ever try to break any rules.

'I understand that I should have waited on the test. I didn't think I had to, I thought I had to wait a maximum of time. Honestly, your worship if they had stopped me from leaving I would have complied.'


The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker left her hotel and rode the ZR - a private taxi-bus system that operates in Barbados


Aluko works as a television pundit having retired as a player and is often seen on the BBC



With the hearing concluded, Aluko stood in tears on the steps of the court and said that while she was not fined or imprisoned for her actions, she was planning to pay a fine regardless as an acceptance of her wrongdoing.

The offer made by Aluko was said to have been seen as a sign of contrition by Magistrate Frederick.

Aluko, who is now the Sporting Director for Aston Villa women's team, hit the headlines last month following a social media row with ex-Chelsea team-mate Bethany England regarding the UK Government's furlough scheme.

In a tweet, the 33-year-old wrote that furloughing 'is needed but has created a culture of do-nothing entitlement'. The post was widely criticised and was later deleted, coupled with an apology for 'any offence caused'.

Aluko's England career came to a head in 2017 after she made allegations of 'bullying and discrimination' against then-manager Mark Sampson, both allegations denied by Sampson.


Aluko drew widespread criticism last month for her comments on UK government furlough


Her former Chelsea team-mate Bethany England did not take kindly to the comments by Aluko


An inquiry later ruled that Sampson had made racially offensive remarks to Aluko and also Aluko's team-mate Drew Spence, forcing an apology from the Football Association.

Aluko is the latest former footballer to fall foul of quarantine rules after former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes was visited by police last week after he hosted an illegal house party for his son's 21st birthday, despite further lockdown rules being imposed in Oldham.

Greater Manchester Police attended the football coach's £3.5million property after he went ahead with celebrations for his son Arron's 21st last Friday despite a new lockdown being imposed at midnight on Thursday.

Under the new lockdown rules, which came in force after Oldham saw a 240 per cent surge in cases at the end of last month, residents are not allowed to invite social visitors beyond those in their support bubble into their homes.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
×