England: Southgate makes stance clear on Henderson- Saudi Arabia move

The England international has come under criticism for his decision to join Al Ettifaq.

England manager Gareth Southgate has addressed the criticism surrounding Jordan Henderson’s recent move to Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder’s association with LGBTQ+ rights has been well-documented, having actively supported initiatives like Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.

However, Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia, a country where same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can lead to severe penalties, has prompted criticism from LGBTQ+ rights campaigners and fans.

“I completely understand the argument of, you know, you’ve supported the LGBTQ community and I can understand why they would have a really strong view on it,” said Southgate (via BBC).

“I think it’s so difficult to say, you know, is Henderson saying he doesn’t support that community anymore? Well no, he isn’t, but of course people are going to say his actions are the reverse of that.”

Henderson’s move has sparked discussions about its potential impact on his international career. But Southgate insists he won’t drop the former Liverpool midfielder from the squad because of his move to Saudi Arabia.

“We would be stupid to do that,” Southgate added. “Why would we rule anyone out based on where they are playing? We have got to see how they are playing.

“We have an idea of what that league will look like, but we won’t know until we actually start to see the games.”