Jordan Henderson acted as an ally to LGBTQ+ supporters – but he only let them down after leaving Liverpool
Jordan Henderson was the Liverpool captain I admired the most. He is now also the footballer who let me down more than anyone.
And I’m not alone.
Because Jordan embodied the spirit of this city perhaps more than any other adopted Scouser.
Born in Sunderland, Jordan showed the qualities we so admire on Merseyside. The work ethic, altruism, humility. He had to fight to gain the respect of the wider footballing public. But his main concern was the place he represented.
Jordan fought for Liverpool and Liverpool fought for Jordan.
And when it came to representing the club off the pitch, nobody did it better. It was the Liverpool captain who organized a fund to make a contribution to the NHS as the pandemic hit frontline workers across the country.
He was the one who responded to a fan in 2020 saying, “If wearing the Rainbow Laces armband helps even one person, then that’s progress.”
That’s why it felt real when Jordan put his name on the 2021 program notes, saying, “I think when you see something that’s clearly wrong and makes another person feel left out, you should stand shoulder to shoulder with him. You also have a responsibility to educate yourself better about the challenges they face.”
Liverpool is a city that is, at its best, inclusive, tolerant and supportive.
Jordan showed solidarity with those who needed him, and that’s the best Scouse can do. And that’s why his departure for Saudi Arabia hurts
There will be people who will say Jordan is doing this for his family. For his wife and children.
But it did not work.
Jordan is no ordinary person. This is not someone who has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the lives of loved ones. Because to borrow a phrase from another author this week, with wealth comes the privilege of choice.
Jordan could have shown his family an even more important quality than the financial security that comes with a £700,000-a-week deal.
He could have shown them – and the world of football – that they had the courage to stand up for what they believed in.
That there are more important things than money. Playing every week for Steven Gerrard – who shouldn’t shy away from criticism either – is more important than the chance to become the star. And as for the rainbow bracelets he wore so proudly? Intoxicated by his new club Al Ettifaq in their video welcoming him to his new surroundings.
Whatever his reasons for going there, the people he once associated with deserve an explanation.
He can never make amends to those who feel hurt and disappointed by his decision. But they should at least know why it was done. Because it’s unbecoming for a Liverpool captain to slip through the back door. It’s inappropriate for Jordan Henderson.
Indeed, Al Ettifaq described him as someone who “takes on new challenges rather than running from them” and called him “the perfect embodiment of Al Ettifaq’s DNA”.
And yet, Jordan chose not to declare himself to those he faced as an ally. He avoids the challenge of justifying his move to Saudi Arabia. I’ll leave you with a few more words from Jordan. Consider this in the context of your new home, a country where people from the LGBTQ+ community can be imprisoned, tortured, beaten or even executed.
“Before I was a footballer, I was a parent, husband, son, brother and friend to the people in my life who are so important to me. The idea that any of them feel left out of playing or attending a football game simply because I am and identifying with who I am amazes me.
“The idea that they would have to go into hiding to be accepted? But that’s exactly how it is for many members of the LGBT+ community. We know it because they tell us. We must therefore listen to them, support them and work to do better.
When did Jordan Henderson stop listening?
