Saudi Pro League: Jordan Henderson comforts the LGBTQ community following the backlash from joining Al Ettifaq

English senior player Jordan Henderson has spoken to comfort and apologize to the LGBTQ community after his transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq was seen as a betrayal. The law in Saudi Arabia states that death penalty awaited anyone caught practicing homosexualism; and there are other practices supported by the Sharia law that the group is against.

Speaking to The Athletic, the player affirmed that nothing had changed in his beliefs, and that the club and country he plays in knew about his activities before signing him.

‘I think 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. I can’t promise anything, but what I can do is sit here and say I have my values and beliefs,’ Jordan Henderson said.

Jordan Henderson had been a high-profile advocate of the LGBTQ community, and have worn the rainbow armband in the field.

The bone of contention was that the LGBTQ community expected him to reject the offer to join Coach Steven Gerrard, the manager of the team he has gone to play for. They assumed it would serve as an act of protest against the rejection of homosexualism and other things in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to the outlet after being asked whether he would wear the rainbow armband in the country’s club, he replied, ‘I wouldn’t rule that out. But at the same time, what I wouldn’t do is disrespect the religion and culture in Saudi Arabia.’

Knowing what a lot in the LGBTQ community were thinking, he explained, ‘I can understand the frustration. I can understand the anger. I get it. All I can say around that is that I’m sorry that they feel like that. My intention was never, ever to hurt anyone. My intention has always been to help causes and communities where I felt like they have asked for my help.’

As things look, the player is in trouble for being vocal about the importance of accepting the LGBTQ narrative in the international community. He is not the only player that left Europe the home of LGBTQ activities to play for a Saudi Arabian club. Christiano Ronaldo did not receive the same backlash, neither have Steven Gerrard, Henderson’s countryman.

nothing’s going to happen. Nothing’s going to change

– Henderson.

Al Ettifaq had paid £12m for the 33-year old during the transfer window. Many think the reason he accepted the transfer was because of money, but he has refuted this.

People can believe me or not, but in my life and my career, money has never been a motivation. Ever. Don’t get me wrong, when you move, the business deal has to be tight.

‘You have to have financials, you have to feel wanted, you have to feel valued. And money is a part of that. But that wasn’t the sole reason. And these possibilities came up before money was even mentioned.’

I do care. I’m not one of these people who goes home, forgets about everything and is just like, ‘I’m fine, my family is fine, just crack on.

– Henderson.

He revealed that he left because Jurgen Klopp was about to bench him a lot: ‘There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing. I’ve got a very good relationship with Jurgen. He was very honest with me.

‘I won’t go into detail about the conversation because it’s private, but it put me in a position where I knew that I wasn’t going to be playing as much. I knew there were going to be new players coming in my position.’

He seemed to believe he could make greater impact by playing for Al Ettifaq.

‘Now when I was making the decision, the way that I tried to look at it was I felt as though, by myself not going, we can all bury our heads in the sand and criticise different cultures and different countries from afar.’

It seemed he knew his apology would not be accepted by many, so he said, ‘I’m comfortable knowing exactly what I am and exactly what I stand for. But I get and I can accept not everyone’s going to get that. So that’s why I can only apologise to those people if they feel like that.’

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