LGBTQ+ Community Lose Respect For Henderson After Saudi Move

Summary:

• Jordan Henderson who captained Liverpool has now moved to Saudi Arabia
• He will now play for Al-Ettifaq after a transfer fee of £12 million was paid
• LGBTQ+ community lashes out at Henderson for letting them down

Jordan Henderson was a very popular football player in England not just for his performances with England and Liverpool but also for how outspoken he was in supporting the LGBTQ+ community until now.

Henderson Leaves Liverpool To Join Al-Ettifaq

Henderson has 75 caps for England and has been with Liverpool since 2011. He became captain of Liverpool in 2015 and went on to play 360 goals for his club side.

During this time, Henderson was very outspoken for the LGBTQ+ community and was shortlisted in 2021 at the British LGBT Awards for a football ally honour award. Henderson has also shown support for the LGBTQ+ community by wearing the rainbow colored armband in the past.

Henderson decided to exit the Premier League and leave Liverpool and switch over to Saudi Arabia after signing a 3 year contract with Al-Ettifaq. A transfer fee of £12 million was paid was paid for Jordan who will now join his ex-Liverpool team mate and manager Steven Gerrard who started his role as manager of Al-Ettifaq in 2023.

Henderson is reported to be earning £700,000 per week at Al-Ettifaq and is the latest of players joining Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

LGBTQ+ Community Disappointed With Henderson

The LGBTQ+ community did not take long to lash out at Jordan Henderson and criticize him for being two faced for moving over to Saudi Arabia which does not support or condone the LGBTQ+ community.

Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country which does not condone same sex marriage and same sex activities are considered illegal and violators can be given the death penalty. Saudi Arabia has also been criticized recently for resorting to sports washing to mask its human rights abuses and discrimination.

In a statement, Pride in Football, a network of LGBTQ+ fan groups, said

When you see someone who has been an ally so publicly transfer to a club in a country where LGBT+ people are attacked and imprisoned, it is disappointing. Good luck in Saudi Arabia Jordan, but you have lost the respect of so many people who valued you, and trusted you.

Interestingly the announcement video by Al-Ettifaq for their new signing seems to have turned any images of him wearing the controversial armband black and white. Henderson has so far not responded to any of the criticism directed at him from the LGBTQ+ community.