Jordan Henderson, the England midfielder, has issued an apology for causing distress within the LGBTQ community due to his decision to play in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that his move to the Gulf state is a "positive thing."
Formerly the captain of Liverpool and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, Henderson faced significant backlash when he made the transition to the Saudi Pro League in July. In an interview with 'The Athletic,' he expressed his understanding of the frustration and anger directed at him.
Henderson acknowledged the criticisms, stating, "There can be a lot of criticism, a lot of negativity around me as a person, and that was difficult to take." He went on to say, "But I just feel as though, because I do care about different causes that I've been involved in, and different communities... I do care. And for people to criticise and say that I'd turned my back on them really, really hurt me."
The Al-Ettifaq player offered his apologies, saying, "All I can say is that I apologize, I'm sorry that I've made them feel that way. But I haven't changed as a person."
Henderson also addressed the possibility of wearing rainbow laces to show support for LGBTQ individuals but stressed that he would not "disrespect the religion and culture in Saudi Arabia."
He defended his move to the Gulf state, where he has been reunited with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard, now the manager of Al-Ettifaq, as a "positive" step. Henderson emphasized that his values and views remain consistent, saying, "People know what my views and values were before I left and still do now. And I think having someone with those views and values in Saudi Arabia is only a positive thing."
Contrary to speculation that his move was financially motivated, the 33-year-old denied that money played a central role. He asserted that the reported astronomical salary figures of £700,000 per week were exaggerated. Henderson explained, "That was the hardest thing. People will see this club come with loads of money and he's just gone, 'Yeah, I'm going'. When in reality that just wasn't the case at all. People can believe me or not, but in my life and my career, money has never been a motivation. Ever." Henderson cited a sense of not feeling "wanted" by Liverpool, who had revamped their midfield, as a key factor in his decision. He was drawn to the prospect of a new challenge, emphasizing that Steven Gerrard did not bring up monetary considerations. Instead, their discussions centered on football and the joint project they envisioned. It was about building something special and contributing to the development of a club and league.
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