New Al-Ettifaq captain Jordan Henderson recently admitted criticism of his July transfer from Liverpool to the Saudi Pro League club has “really hurt” him, as fans called into question his sincerity for his pro-LGBT stance.
Henderson insisted his intention has “always been to help causes and communities” and that he had not “changed as a person”, however the interview, in The Athletic, has seemingly done little to dissipate the disappointment of the LGBT community.
The United Kingdom’s only male professional footballer to have come out as gay, Jake Daniels, recently described the transfer as a “slap in the face”.
Some may wonder what business one player has questioning where another plays his football and 99 times out of 100, this is the case, but this particular situation is part of a larger market deviation which has come under feverish scrutiny.
Many heads have been turned in the past 12 months by some of the world’s best players making off for the Saudi Pro League in its highly authoritarian namesake country.
These transfers have garnered attention mostly for the overnight visibility the previously irrelevant league has gathered, but in Henderson’s case, his move to Al-Ettifaq has crossed swords with his personal belief system, which has become a large part of his identity.
Henderson says there is no conflict, telling The Athletic, “I strongly believe me playing in Saudi Arabia is a good thing … what I can do is sit here and say I have my values and beliefs.”
Whether or not more players from the west moving to Saudi Arabia is a good thing is a matter of opinion, but Henderson is not just any player – he is the public face of football’s acceptance of LGBT players, officials, and fans.
Henderson still believes he can serve in this capacity, but undermining this is just how deeply hurt the LGBT community remains given the former Liverpool captain has chosen to play in a country where gay people are so gravely persecuted.
When Henderson slipped on his rainbow captain’s armband and rainbow laces while playing for the Reds the past three years, it was more than just a gesture, as was his vocal public message “everyone is welcome at Liverpool Football Club”.
Henderson’s commitment to this cause, in the eyes of the LGBT community, was not just one part of the English international’s general life outlook of helping the less fortunate – such as when he raised funds for the National Health Service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Champions League winner’s promises to LGBT fans, in their eyes, represented a whole-hearted pledge which he had sworn to live by every day and in every aspect of his life.
Given Henderson’s most conspicuous expressions of his support for this community have come on the field, LGBT fans expected him to also wave off any interest from a league owned and operated by a country which is so vehemently anti-gay.
Some will suggest it is easy for fans, who have no fiscal stake in Henderson’s career, to expect such a financially imprudent decision as turning down Al-Ettifaq.
It is this exact issue where the clear divide becomes evident: Henderson seemingly expected fans to appreciate his support for their beliefs when it was offered, but surely not expect them to hold him to such a standard in the face of such an enormous fiscal opportunity.
Unfortunately for Henderson it is exactly this sort of 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week commitment LGTB fans have come to expect from champions of their cause.
LGBT people don’t have the luxury Henderson does to be someone other than themselves if they want to visit Saudi Arabia; as we understand in 2023, to be gay is not a choice.
Henderson, as an outspoken ally to LGBT people, was expected by the community to hold himself to a similar standard.
Whether this is fair or not is arguable; on one hand, Henderson shouldn’t be expected to prioritise anything above himself and his family when making such a career decision, and in accepting a move to Al-Ettifaq, he has clearly put himself first.
However, the former EPL champion has made LGBT allyship a large part of his identity, not just as a person, but as footballer; in his career, he has constantly put others first.
Many fans love Henderson for this quality, and it is fair enough these same fans can feel as if they’d been sold a lie when he put himself and his family ahead of his vocal passion for his causes.
Blink
Roar Rookie
Henderson is a leader. That is why he went to the Saudi league. His brain drained critics are poorly educated in history and progressing humanity.
Davico
Roar Pro
And just for context Disney Assets - USD205b Liabilities - USD 30b 3rd Qtr Rev - USD21b Market Cap - 160b Just shows how useless most investors are and how the "Anti-woke" don't like money just so they can have their rants. Value!!!!
Davico
Roar Pro
Disney going broke??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Davico
Roar Pro
Yeah Disney aint going broke! Is UFC Woke?
Davico
Roar Pro
So he should not support the LGBT community? Or he should only do it the way certain people want him to? FMD, damned if you do and damned if you dont.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Yeah not sure "you're the only one" who has protested.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Mario Bros made $1.3 Billion so?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
:thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
Maybe he wants to play in a new environment and experience more of the world. Good on him, he is a professional and can choose to play where he wants to play. Maybe the activists should allow people to make choices for themselves based on their personal beliefs and respect other peoples decisions and life choices.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The secret ballot is gone, FIFA council has replaced the executive commitee and has a lot more members. The reality is that politicians are not going to sacrifice their popularity in order to support a Saudi world cup. Once campaigns start against the Saudis then these people will be put in the limelight and wont risk getting voted out. Greg Norman isnt standing for election is he. The expense of a bid , well the expense of a bid is nothing and would go to useful research, and one thing the bid could have done is paid for an independent study into the Brisbane situation. A new 60k stadium in Brisbane would have meant Brisbane has three stadiums, saves billions and gets used for big events and concerts and you would not have the current farce at the moment which will even worsen once the Gabba rebuild is done. The Saudis you would think they own the entire Australian media , or maybe they have ulterior motives to cooperate with them. Furthermore the election of Nikou and the removal of Lowy seems to have been very convenient in this regard as well. Is it a coincidence once the Saudi world cup is confirmed he is out the window. Johnson talking up Infantino was a clear indication where his loyalties lie. Can I blame the politicans when the media and the football federations were acting members of the Saudi harem I really cant.
XI
Roar Guru
They made $1.5 billion on the Barbie movie.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Yeh that’s the other thing I thought of..he doesn’t need the mega money
Garry
Roar Rookie
both Chris1 and I have clearly stated we are against this BUT a futile Australian bid doesn’t help anyone..I would love to see some billionaire support the cause and pay for the millions it would cost for even a token bid but that’s unlikely
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Get Woke, Go Broke. Look what happened to Hollywood and Disney when they bent the nee.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/07/jordan-hendersons-wage-in-saudi-arabia-revealed-to-be-far-lower-than-700k/ Henderson was on £10M per year at Liverpool. I would say that would be life-changing for 99% of the population without having to go to the Saudi league.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Saudis have just been handed the 2034 world cup on a silver platter and your worried about Jordan Henderson? There has been a defeaning silence from everyone except me on that issue. I didnt see any campaigns to ensure Australia would bid by anyone except me.