Gareth Southgate says Jordan Henderson will have to ‘explain’ his Liverpool exit at some point

England manager Gareth Southgate talks about former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson

Gareth Southgate, the England national team manager, has stated that Jordan Henderson can still play for the England national team despite his move to Saudi Arabia. Henderson has recently moved from Liverpool to Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in the Middle East.

Southgate has also stated that Hendo must explain his decision to accept the transfer to Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of concerns about LGBTQ+ rights in the country despite there being no real threat to his place in the England squad due to his decision to move. Here is what he had to say on talkSPORT:

“He (Henderson) at some point I’m sure is going to need to explain that decision, be interviewed as to what his thinking was, how he feels about it, and in the end everybody has got to be responsible for the decisions they make in their life.”

“It’s not for me to judge, I’d have a view, but you’ve got to be comfortable with your own decisions when you put your own head on the pillow and what that means for you, your family, and where else you can go.”

“I’ve spoken with Jordan this summer, the question he wanted to know was, ‘if I move here, are you going to automatically rule me out?’ We would be stupid to do that, why would we rule any player out just based on where they’re playing?”

Henderson has spoken to Southgate about his decision to move to Saudi Arabia and has reiterated his desire to continue playing for England even though he won’t play club football in Europe. The manager has put through his thoughts stating that Hendo’s place in the England squad at the moment, has no threats of this nature.

Henderson has previously spoken out in support of LGBTQ+ rights, saying that “everyone should be treated equally, no matter who they are or who they love”. His move to Saudi Arabia, where LGBTQ+ rights are questionable, has raised questions about his stance on the issue. However, Henderson has not yet commented on the matter.

What next for Hendo?

Southgate’s comments on Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia have sparked a debate about the role of footballers in promoting human rights. Some have argued that footballers have a responsibility to speak out against human rights abuses, while others have argued that they should be free to make their own decisions about where they play.

Hendo has not spoken about this aspect yet, and there is growing expectation that he would have to explain his move to Saudi eventually. The debate about the role of footballers in promoting human rights is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia will affect his stance on the issue.

As a prominent figure in the sports world, Henderson’s choices can inadvertently carry symbolic weight, potentially influencing perceptions about LGBTQ+ rights. While his move to Saudi is surely not a problem for his international career, he would still have to explain the hypocrisy, for the lack of a better word.

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In conclusion, Gareth Southgate’s endorsement of Jordan Henderson’s continued participation in the England national team highlights the manager’s emphasis on performance and inclusion. However, the situation also brings to light the intricate relationship between sports and personal values, especially when players’ choices intersect with regions where LGBTQ+ rights are a subject of concern in this scenario.