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2024 Euro Qualifier: LGBTQ Community set to stage protest against Jordan Henderson amid Ettifaq saga
When Jordan Henderson decided to join Al Ettifaq, a drama sequence began. Although his £700,000 per week contract made him the highest-paid British footballer ever, it also had a significant negative impact that could result in his dismissal from the English team if coach Gareth Southgate were to step down.
Nobody is criticizing Southgate for selecting the seasoned player at this moment, but there are concerns that the ripple effect may negatively impact the entire squad.
The group’s viewpoint has been expressed by a member of the LGBTQ+ community who is prepared to hold a protest during the game. Today in Ukraine is the match for the Euro 2024 qualifying round.
‘Having spoken to some of our members, there was a real sense of disappointment (after Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq).
There was a question on whether people were intending to boo, and the original intention was to try to focus on being supportive of the team.
‘But if we wanted to make a stand, then turning our backs is quite a symbolic move, particularly given how the community has felt.
Since his interview, that may well change. I would imagine people are more likely to boo or show an audible distaste.
There are members attending who we’ve spoken to and told the position of the group, which is to turn backs. If they want to boo that’s a personal decision.
‘The issue with booing when you’re part of the England fan movement, it could also turn other fans against you who might not know the reasons behind it. That was why our position as a group is turning backs.
[It] is done in a way that still respects the England team, but makes the point quite clearly that we don’t have respect for Jordan anymore.’
Now Gareth Southgate has swiftly defended his decision to include the senior player in the team.
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‘I don’t pick the team based on external reaction, but he’s a very experienced professional. He is very mature at handling any situation.
He’s trained really well this week. His feeling towards that community hasn’t changed. I am sure all of our fans are going to get behind the team when the game starts.
I am sure they will get behind Jordan when the game starts as well.’
One only has to hope the support he expects would come, since the cancelling of people in the West spread like wildfire.
Jordan Henderson recently tried to prove to the community that he had not abandoned them, but his efforts seems to have been wasted.
‘When I hear stuff like, ‘You’ve turned your back on us,’ that hurts me. I do care,’ Henderson said. ‘I have family and friends in the LGBTQ+ community …
I’m comfortable knowing exactly what I am and exactly what I stand for. But I get and I can accept not everyone’s going to get that. So that’s why I can only apologize to those people if they feel like that.’