(London) Jordan Henderson, the former Liverpool captain and passionate advocate for LGBT rights, has apologized for harming the LGBT+ community by relocating him to Saudi Arabia.
The English international, who has been subjected to severe criticism since his departure to the Saudi club Al-Ettifaq at the end of last July, specified in an interview published today, Tuesday, by the newspaper. the athlete And he understands the anger directed against him, but he believes that his arrival in the Saudi championship can only be “positive”.
“There can be so much criticism, negative things about me, and it’s hard to take,” he says in this interview. “For people to criticize me and say I turned my back on them really hurts me.”
He added, “All I can say is I apologize to them, and I’m sorry for making them feel that way.”
But the new agreement player continues: “People knew my views and values before I left and they still know them today. I think that someone with these views in Saudi Arabia is only positive. »
Jordan Henderson, who is known for his commitment to the LGBT cause – he notably wore rainbow laces during Euro 2020 – has announced that he does not rule out doing so again, but added that it would not “violate the religion and culture of Saudi Arabia”. »
The Gulf state, which outlaws homosexuality, has been accused of trying to “wash its human rights record with sport” by luring some of the world’s best players to the domestic league, such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema.
Henderson denied that the money was the reason for his transfer, adding that the sums reported by the British media were exaggerated. According to the press, the 33-year-old international, whose contract runs for three years, will earn up to €816,000 (about $1,200,000) per week. “You may believe me or not, but in my career, money has never been a motivator. Never.”
