Jordan Henderson ‘Disappointed’ By England Fans Booing Him During Australia Friendly
Jordan Henderson has expressed his disappointment at being booed by England fans during the friendly with Australia, but says he does not intend to get into politics and it will not change anything.
The former Liverpool captain moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq over the summer with the transfer widely criticised after Henderson’s public support of the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Given that homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, Henderson moving to play there for vast wages has been blasted as hypocritical and England fans made their feelings clear when the Three Lions played Australia on Friday.
Henderson was captaining the side, but was heckled from the stands at Wembley, but the midfielder was largely unfazed.
“If people want to boo if I’m playing in a different country, that’s fine. Everyone is going to have an opinion over playing over in Saudi,” he said. “I’ve spoken in the past about the reasons for that. Whether people believe us or not is up to them. But when I’m here with England, it doesn’t change anything. I give absolutely everything. Of course it’s disappointing, but it won’t change what I do here. I want to keep playing and help the team become successful.”
Henderson has insisted that he is trying to be a positive influence in Saudi, but does admit that he can see why the LGBTQ+ community are especially disappointed with his decision.
“I haven’t been surprised by that because I can understand the reasons in what they’re saying,” he said. “I look at it from a different point of view. But I can understand it and I’ve got to take that on the chin. But it doesn’t change the person that I am. I’m playing football in a different country where I want to try to improve the game on the pitch but also things off the pitch as well.
“I’m not a politician. I’m not going to get into politics. All I’ve ever done is concentrate on my football and try to help people that have asked for my help. When I’m going out there, I’m just playing football, trying to improve the league, trying to improve my own team and trying to win games. I do the same when I come here. It’s not nice, your own fans, if they were booing. But people have their own opinions. Whenever I bump into anyone on the street it’s always been positive.”
England are back in action on Tuesday night in European Championship qualifying against Italy, with Henderson hoping to be in action again, although he is more likely to be on the bench.
Jordan Henderson Disappointed By England Fans Booing Him
Jordan Henderson has expressed his disappointment at being booed by England fans during the friendly with Australia, but says he does not intend to get into politics and it will not change anything. The former Liverpool captain moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq over the summer with the transfer widely criticised after Henderson’s public support of the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Given that homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, Henderson moving to play there for vast wages has been blasted as hypocritical and England fans made their feelings clear when the Three Lions played Australia on Friday.
Henderson was captaining the side, but was heckled from the stands at Wembley, but the midfielder was largely unfazed. “If people want to boo if I’m playing in a different country, that’s fine. Everyone is going to have an opinion over playing over in Saudi,” he said. “I’ve spoken in the past about the reasons for that. Whether people believe us or not is up to them. But when I’m here with England, it doesn’t change anything. I give absolutely everything. Of course it’s disappointing, but it won’t change what I do here. I want to keep playing and help the team become successful.”
Henderson has insisted that he is trying to be a positive influence in Saudi, but does admit that he can see why the LGBTQ+ community are especially disappointed with his decision. “I haven’t been surprised by that because I can understand the reasons in what they’re saying,” he said. “I look at it from a different point of view. But I can understand it and I’ve got to take that on the chin. But it doesn’t change the