Britain’s only openly gay footballer has described Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia as a ‘slap in the face’ following his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The former Liverpool captain sent a message of support to Jake Daniels when he came out last year, but the Blackpool player has not heard from Henderson since completing a £12million move to join Al-Ettifaq in July Close.
The England international was criticized for moving to Saudi Arabia, where same-sex sexual activity is illegal, as campaigners felt it contradicted his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Henderson had expressed support for the rainbow lace campaign and ending LGBTQ+ discrimination in football during his time at Anfield.
Daniels said BBC Newsbeat the former Liverpool midfielder sent him a message saying he was ‘proud’ of his decision to come out 18 months ago.
Jake Daniels has described Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia as a ‘slap in the face’ following his support for the LGBTQ+ community
Daniels became Britain’s first openly gay professional footballer since Justin Fashanu in 1990 when he came out 18 months ago
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“He supported me and said, ‘We’re proud of what you’ve done,’” he explained.
‘When I see him move to Saudi Arabia, I get a slap in the face.
“But I think the money pays well, and that money should mean more to people.”
Davis also revealed that he had spoken to Steven Gerrard before the Liverpool great took over as manager at Al-Ettifaq.
“I met him in person and he said, ‘If you ever want to get in touch, just message me’ – but he’s moved on,” he explained.
Henderson signed a £700,000-a-week deal but has repeatedly insisted his decision to join Al-Ettifaq was not financially motivated.
In an interview with The Athletics in September he said he understood the anger surrounding his move to Saudi Arabia, but claimed he moved to the country to “grow the sport around the world.”
He said people were aware of his “views and values” and claimed his presence in Saudi Arabia could ultimately be a “positive thing” despite the barrage of criticism coming his way.
‘I can understand the frustration. I can understand the anger. I understand,” Henderson said.
Henderson faced criticism from the LGBTQ+ community by moving to Saudi Arabia
The England international joined Al-Ettifaq in July, where he was reunited with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard
Henderson had expressed support for the rainbow lace campaign and ending LGBTQ+ discrimination in football during his time at Anfield.
‘All I can say about that is that I’m sorry they think that way. It was never my intention to hurt anyone.
“It has always been my intention to help causes and communities that I felt were asking for my help.
‘I think people know what my views and values were before I left, and they still know them now. And I think it can only be a positive thing to have someone with those views and values in Saudi Arabia.”
His response was widely reported by Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ fan group Kop Outs!, who accused Henderson of disclaiming any responsibility for his ‘role in sportswashing’ and trying to ‘cover up Saudi Arabia’s disgusting human rights record’.
Henderson was previously nominated for ‘Football Ally’ at the 2021 LGBT+ Awards after making headlines with his supportive tweet to Liverpool fan Keith Spooner during the Rainbow Laces campaign.
The midfielder had also declared himself ‘proud’ to be considered an ally and said it was important to stand with the LGBT+ community during Liverpool’s program notes during the 2021 Rainbow Laces campaign.
Davies warned that football risks undermining the progress it has made on the LGBTQ+ front by hosting the World Cup in Qatar last year and awarding the 2034 edition to Saudi Arabia
“I truly believe that when you see something that is clearly wrong and that makes another human being feel left out, you should stand shoulder to shoulder with him or her,” Henderson wrote at the time.
‘You also have a responsibility to better inform yourself about the challenges they experience.
‘That’s where my own position on homophobia in football is rooted. Before I become a footballer, I am a parent, a husband, a son, a brother and a friend to the people in my life who mean so much to me.
“The idea that any of them would feel left out of playing or attending a football match simply because they are and identify as who they are baffles me.
“The idea that they had to hide from it to be accepted? But that’s exactly how many members of the LGBT+ community feel. We know this because they tell us. So we need to listen, support them and work to make things better.”
Daniels is Britain’s first openly gay footballer since Justin Fashanu came out in 1990 and one of the few high-profile gay men in the sport.
Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo became the world’s first openly gay top footballer in October 2021, before Czech international Jakub Jankto came out in February.
Some players have also come out after their careers were over, such as former Aston Villa player Thomas Hitzlsperger and ex-Hull City youth star Thomas Beattie.
But Davies warned that football risks undermining the progress it has made on the LGBTQ+ front by hosting the World Cup in Qatar last year and awarding the 2034 edition to Saudi Arabia.
“We started to see some progress,” he said. ‘Then the World Cup will take place in Qatar and we will go back.
“If I was involved in the World Cup and went over, I wouldn’t feel safe and that puts my football at risk.”