Mark Wright’s Soccer Aid controversy after ‘upsetting’ ITV bosses with decision

Mark Wright will be playing in Soccer Aid’s charity football match this Sunday – but the reality TV star was missed out from the original line-up announcement

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Mark Wright gives tour of £3.5million dream home in Essex

Mark Wright maye be known for appearing on the the likes of TOWIE and I’m A Celeb – but he’s also pretty good on the football pitch.

The 35-year-old was in West Ham and Tottenham Hostpur’s academies, played for Southend United and briefly signed for Crawley Town last season.

Mark, who is confirmed to play in Soccer Aid’s upcoming charity football match, initially faced controversy ahead of the announcement.

The reality TV star was missed off the “full line-up” announcement – and his absence was notable having appeared in the charity game in previous years.

The initial reveal listed Harry Redknapp as manager of the England squad, with the captain as former One Directions star Liam Payne leading the star-studded list of celebs.

Mark played in Soccer Aid’s charitable competition in 2021 (

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Getty Images)

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Rumours initially speculated that he had been “banned” from taking part after reportedly upsetting ITV bosses.

This came after Mark had allegedly dropped out last-minute from reality sports game show The Games via a text message.

A source told The Sun at the time: “Mark’s name is mud at ITV at the moment. Bookers who are working on shows aren’t going to be approaching Mark to appear.

“The only show they are happy for him to be on is Soccer Aid as he is one person in a sea of faces and has been a part of the event for years.”

Mark denied the rumours (

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Getty Images)

However, Mark denied he quit the show via text, claiming he has projects with ITV in the pipeline.

He wrote on social media: “Refrained from commenting on this nonsense story for over a week because it’s nonsense and there’s plenty much more important stories to worry about in the world.

“Because it’s constantly being repeated, here’s my comment. I’m absolutely not banned from ITV, in fact I’m doing a show for ITV three months from now.

“The show that ‘I quit’ hadn’t even signed a contract for!

“I ‘called’ the producer not text to tell her I’d had a change of heart on the show because I realised I’d had too many other commitments already to make it work.

“The media outlet who wrote this are not to blame. They can only believe what the person who is making this up is telling them.”

In April, he announced that he’ll be attending this year’s charity match.

He said: “I’m delighted to return to Soccer Aid for UNICEF this year!

“Getting yet another chance to play alongside football legends and to play at the London Stadium, is a childhood dream come true.

“Tickets are still available from the Soccer Aid website, please come and watch me on Sunday, June 12 – it’s a match you won’t want to miss!”

Mark will be supporting UNICEF in 2022’s Soccer Aid (

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©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures) He’ll reveal his expertise in the sport this Sunday (

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Mike Marsland/WireImage)

The reality TV star is no stranger to revealing his expertise on the pitch, having starred in the charitable bout last year.

Mark has amounted his professionalism in the sport throughout the years, having played professionally ahead of his glamorous celebrity life on television screens.

Before his appearance on TOWIE, Mark was a semi-professional footballer, with a youth career at West Ham United, Arsenal, and even Tottenham Hotspur.

After starting his senior career with Southend United – he soon moved into nightclub promoting where football inevitably took the back foot and was played only semi-professionally.

He made his return to professional football in December 2020, where he signed for League Two side Crawley Town on a non-contract basis.

However, his aspirations of cementing himself as a professional footballer were all but ended as Crawley Town confirmed they released the star at the end of the 2020–21 season.

The former professional footballer will alight his expertise in the short again this Sunday in Soccer Aid’s charity football match for UNICEF.

Liam Payne is this year’s captain (

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Getty Images) Kem Cetinay is also playing this year (

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David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

He will join alongside famous faces for the special day, including the likes of former Love Island winner Kem Cetinay and Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount.

Soccer Aid was originally set up in 2006 by chart-topper Robbie Williams – who wanted to do his bit to raise funds for UNICEF – a United Nations agency which provides humanitarian and development aid to children around the world.

Once a year, a team of celebrities representing England take on a “World XI” team of well-known names for an epic football match which is broadcast live on tv.

Since its first match, the event has raised more than £60m for the charity and last year’s event, held at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, raised a record-breaking £13 million.

This year the match will take place at the London Stadium in Stratford and will be broadcast live on ITV, STV and ITV Hub,

Soccer Aid takes place on Sunday, June 12 – the event will kick-off at 7.30pm.

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