The fact that some England supporters jeered at Jordan Henderson following his team’s 1-0 victory over Australia “defies logic,” according to the manager of England’s national team, Gareth Southgate.
When he was taken off the field in the 62nd minute, some of the spectators jeered at the England captain, Jordan Henderson, who is 33 years old.
“He is a role model in the squad,” Southgate said of the player. “I don’t understand it.”
This summer, the former captain of Liverpool football club made a decision that created great controversy when he signed for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.
During his time with Liverpool, Henderson was an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. However, he has been criticized by certain fans and LGBTQ+ campaigners for going to Saudi Arabia, a country in where sexual behavior between people of the same gender is prohibited.
Earlier this month, Henderson released a video to his social media accounts in which he praised Saudi Arabia’s quest for the 2034 World Cup. At the time, Henderson was designated England captain for the night since Harry Kane, the team’s normal captain, was an unused substitute.
When asked if Henderson’s relocation and support for the bid were the cause of the booing, Southgate responded by saying, “I know what’s created it, but it defies logic that you would give a player who is playing and putting his heart and soul into playing for England… why boo him?”
Southgate also stated that he did not wish “to elaborate” on the reasons why the crowd was booing Henderson.
“How is [booing] going to help him or the team?” , asked the reporter. He has earned 79 caps for England, which is a remarkable achievement given everything he has accomplished so far.
“He has Jude Bellingham under his wing,” the narrator says. Tonight, in a team that didn’t have a lot of caps, he was the glue that held everything together on the field.
After the news that Henderson would be joining Al-Ettifaq was made public, the club shared a welcome video on its social media channels. The film included a highlight reel of Henderson’s career, but his rainbow armband was obscured.
Henderson stated that the criticism he received for the action “really hurt,” but he continued by saying, “If I wear the rainbow armband, and that disrespects their religion, then that’s not right either.” Henderson made these comments in an interview with The Athletic. Everyone ought to show reverence for the world’s various faiths and cultures.
The former Sunderland midfielder has represented England at three World Cups and three European Championships. He has also led Liverpool to victory in the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup while serving as captain.
This season in the Saudi Pro League, he has played in eight different games thus far.
