Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, 33, has two years left on his contract, but is now reported to be considering a move to Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Thursday, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano stated that Henderson had accepted an offer from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, which is now coached by Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.
The clubs still need to agree for there to be a transfer, as Henderson is known to be under contract, but Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is said to have given the green light to a move for the Englishman – after twelve years at the Merseyside club.
Now a Liverpool LGBTQ+ supporter group, ‘Kops Out’, is coming out and criticizing Henderson for the alleged choice to move to Saudi Arabia. The supporter group is critical because it is illegal to be gay or transgender in Saudi Arabia.
“We are appalled and concerned that anyone would consider working to launder sports for a regime that oppresses women and LGBTQ+ people and regularly tops the death penalty statistics in the world,” the organization wrote in a statement on Twitter.
Henderson has previously voiced support for LGBTQ+ rights, and as recently as last October he highlighted the importance of a campaign to wear rainbow-colored shoelaces, as a form of visible support.
– I have regularly worn the rainbow laces and today will be no exception as this kind of visible support can only have a positive impact. It also sends the powerful message that football is for everyone, he said then, according to the Daily Mirror.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, in turn, has some understanding of Henderson’s alleged choice, but at the same time also believes that it leads to criticism.
“The money is hard to say no to,” he writes on Twitter.
“He will be criticized because he has received a lot of praise in the past for his stance on LGBTQ+. He is not a player in his prime, but again it is a big statement to bring the Liverpool captain to the Saudi league. A good deal for Liverpool too,” he continues.
Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in the summer of 2011, and has since scored 33 goals and provided 61 assists in 492 appearances. He has also won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, European Super Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield. The merit list also includes 77 A international matches with England’s national team, where he also acted as captain in individual international matches.
2023-07-13 21:18:00
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