England LGBT+ fans could shun Jordan Henderson for 'turning their back on them'

English LGBT+ fans may turn their backs on Jordan Henderson when he plays for his country, in token response to his move to Saudi Arabia, as manager Gareth Southgate has played down a 'moral argument' against the move.< /p>

Henderson has been included in the 26-man squad for the upcoming games against Ukraine and Scotland as England manager Southgate has stuck with the former Liverpool skipper despite his move to the Saudi Arabian side. 'Al-Ettifaq.

Southgate doesn't believe Henderson will be booed in his next game in England, despite the criticism he faced for moving to Saudi Arabia after being a staunch supporter of the Premier's 'Rainbow Laces' campaign League and also having worked alongside Henderson. Liverpool's official LGBT+ fan group.

Joe White, co-chairman of Pride in Football and founder of Three Lions Pride, believes Henderson will not receive a hostile reception, but warned that his presence on the pitch could be greeted with a token gesture "in the same way that he has turned his back on us”.

“It will certainly be a very hushed atmosphere and, although he will be present in the team, he will no longer be present on our banners which we take to games,” White told the PA news agency. .

"I don't think it will turn hostile because at the end of the day we want England to do the best they can, but I think, let's say he came on, whereas before he there was a lot of cheering, especially from our group at Three Lions Pride, I think there will only be silence now.

“There may well be a common message coming from the LGBT supporters in the stadium who may well turn their back on him entering the pitch in the same way he turned his back on us on his way to Arabia saudi. »< /p>

Speaking after announcing his team, Southgate questioned why Henderson was being subjected to so much criticism.

"We choose a team for football reasons," he said.

“There are many different club ownership models in England, many players play in countries where there are different religious beliefs; I'm not sure why a player would receive an adverse reaction because of where he plays his football.

"I don't really know what the moral argument is, because a lot of our industries are funded by Saudi investment. Given the situation with Russia, we depend on Saudi Arabia for a large part of our oil.

“They have invested in many British industries, but I hear no noise about it. Only football is highlighted.

"The LGBT+ stance is a religious belief in this country and there are many other countries around the world that we trade and operate with that have these beliefs, so it's very difficult to overcome that." p >

"Until someone tells me differently whether or not I can choose players if they play in different countries, that's one thing.

“My job is to choose a football team. I don't think you can choose a football team based on any prejudice as to where they might play their football. »

England had previously come under fire from LGBT+ groups after opting out of wearing the 'One Love' armband at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Southgate – who said he and his team “should” at some point travel to Saudi Arabia to watch Henderson – also reaffirmed their commitment to inclusivity, adding: “We support the LGBTQ+ community.

"Many of the team and staff have relatives or friends from this community.

“It is something that we are very aware of and a situation that we are very aware of.

"We tried to be very supportive, but I also accept that members of the community felt disappointed by the World Cup.

“These are all very complex situations that we try to do our best to manage. »

Southgate told BBC Radio 5Live that it was up to Henderson when he took up the issue.

"It's up to him when he's going to speak and how he speaks," he said.

The PA news agency understands that the media plans for which the England players will be offered to speak at St George's Park next week have yet to be confirmed.

When asked if Henderson could do anything to win back the support of the LGBT+ community, White added, "I don't think he can win back the trust just because he now lives in a country where it is illegal to be LGBT, where the local LGBT community must hide and live in fear of arrest, state-sanctioned abuse. »

Meanwhile, Southgate did not commit when asked if he would ever consider a job in Saudi Arabia.

But the 52-year-old has said he would never leave England for such an opportunity, just a week after Roberto Mancini took over as Saudi Arabia head coach shortly after resigned from the Italian post.

“I can easily say no and look like a big guy,” he replied when asked if he would take a job in the countryside.

"But can you answer this question until...