Jordan Henderson Seals Saudi Move to Al-Ettifaq as LGBT Groups Speak Out Against the Move
England international and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has confirmed his move to the Saudi Pro League, where he’ll be plying his trade for Al-Ettifaq.
Henderson leaves behind a rich legacy after 12 years at Liverpool. He won 8 trophies at the club, 7 of them as the club captain. Most impressively, he led his team to victory in the 2019-20 season, amassing 99 points on their way to lifting the English Premier League trophy.
With 492 appearances for Liverpool, Henderson is third behind Steven Gerrard (his new manager) and Jamie Carragher on the all-time appearance rankings. He managed 33 goals during that time.
Henderson’s move comes at a time when the Saudi League continues to draw attention due to the recruitment of top players from Europe. Being a vocal LGBTQ+ rights advocate, many have raised concerns. His move is seen as an endorsement of the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia.
Various England and Liverpool fan groups have come out to express their disappointment. They view it as a betrayal for an ally like Henderson to move to a country where same-sex relations are illegal. Such comments are bound to concern the football authorities in Saudi Arabia, with the government keen on sports expansion and attracting a global audience to its product.
During his tenure as England’s vice-captain, Henderson also raised concerns about human rights abuses in Qatar. Many activists have questioned the genuineness of his past actions and statements.
