The Liverpool supporters’ board have claimed that Jordan Henderson‘s decision to move to Saudi Arabia has caused ‘hurt and division’ amongst fans.
Henderson has joined Al-Ettifaq in a £12million move that will see him earn £700,000-a-week and play under Reds legend Steven Gerrard.
The midfielder had been Liverpool’s club captain since 2015 and had expressed his support for the LGBTQI+ community and fans.
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia and Henderson’s move to Al-Ettifaq has drawn much criticism from supporters, especially those from the Kop Outs supporters’ group.
As reported by The Athletic, the club supporters’ board said it was ‘very disappointed’ by Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia.
The Liverpool supporters’ board criticised Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia
The club supporters’ board, which was founded in 2022, is made up of 16 members including Paul Amann, Kop Outs chairperson and Jo Goodall, chair of Liverpool’s women’s supporters club.
‘Jordan Henderson was a true captain and true leader for Liverpool on and off the pitch. We know he did much to promote inclusion on and off the pitch. He stood out as a principled footballer,’ a statement read.
‘We are therefore very disappointed by his decision and the hurt and division it has created. The very essence of the Liverpool supporters board is to be inclusive and ensure all Liverpool fans, whatever their faith, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability can attend and enjoy football.
‘That’s what we want for fans, that’s what we want for football. We stand in solidarity with our allies from Kop Outs, Liverpool’s LGBT+ Fans Group’.
Henderson was nominated for ‘Football Ally’ at the LGBT+ Awards in 2021, having made headlines for his supportive tweet to Liverpool fan Keith Spooner during the Rainbow Laces campaign.
Earlier this month Kop Outs expressed concern about Henderson’s switch to Saudi Arabia. They also criticised Gerrard’s involvement with Saudi Arabia.
‘Kop Outs have valued the allyship shown by Jordan Henderson,’ the group wrote.
Henderson had previously received much praise for his support of the LGBTQI+ community
Henderson will be playing under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard after joining Al-Ettifaq
‘We are appalled and concerned that anyone might consider working for a #sportswashing operation for a regime where women & LGBT+ people are oppressed & that regularly tops the world death sentence table?
‘Gerrard’s participation in this sportswashing is particularly galling given his previous support for LA Galaxy teammate Robbie Rogers.
‘When someone’s made a fortune, should money tempt them to go to work? Maybe they should be asking themselves those questions.
‘We hope that Jordan Henderson proves to be a man of his word and stays true to the values of our club, which so far he has been an absolute embodiment of.’
In his programme notes in 2021, Henderson stated that it was important to stand alongside the LGBT+ community.
He wrote: ‘I do believe when you see something that is clearly wrong and makes another human being feel excluded you should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them.
‘You also have a responsibility to educate yourself better around the challenges they experience.
‘That’s where my own position on homophobia in football is rooted. Before I’m a footballer, I’m a parent, a husband, a son, a brother and a friend to the people in my life who matter so much to me. The idea that any of them would feel excluded from playing or attending a football match, simply for being and identifying as who they are, blows my mind.
‘The idea they’d have to hide from it to be accepted? But that’s exactly how too many members of the LGBT+ community feel. We know this because they tell us. So we should listen, support them and work to make it better.’
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