In a recent interview with The Athletic, Jordan Henderson spoke about his relocation to Saudi Arabia. He also spoke about how everyone has misunderstood him and his motivations. We strongly advise reading it all, because David Ornstein and Adam Crafton did a great job of holding Henderson accountable. He is not given a free pass or permitted to get away with simple explanations. But his responses are, to put it bluntly, total bull shit. Here are the worst of them, ripped to pieces in great detail. Scroll down to read Jordan Henderson’s Explanation About His Saudi Arabia Move.
Jordan Henderson’s Explanation About His Saudi Arabia Move
1) On wearing Rainbow Laces
Henderson’s most significant and worst response is this one. Because it unintentionally exposes the hollowness of everything else he says before and after this about how living in Saudi Arabia may be beneficial for him and his principles.
He said, “I wouldn’t discount that. But at the same time, disrespecting Saudi Arabia’s religion and culture is something I would never do. We must respect that if we all agree that everyone is free to be who they want to be and that everyone is inclusive. We must treat everyone with respect. And if doing something like that violated someone’s religious beliefs, I won’t do it. However, if the chance arises where I can do it and it doesn’t, then yes, since that’s what I believe in.”
He is saying here that he won’t try to alter anything, but that if circumstances change and “the opportunity comes,” he will gladly tie his boots. Henderson is aware that the chance won’t arise in the circumstances he has outlined above. It is currently possible to wear rainbow-colored laces. He simply won’t do it due to the “disrespect,” and he won’t fight back. So if he is so determined to gently avoid any “disrespect,” where does that leave the frequently cited advantages of his stay in Saudi Arabia?
This response has aspects of the false notion that tolerance entails tolerating intolerance. It’s a paradox, to be sure, but the idea that tolerance by definition calls for us to be intolerant of bigotry is neither new nor contentious. Respecting those who make the presence of enormous groups of people you have previously professed to support illegal is not being “inclusive.”
2) On change
“When I was deciding, I tried to look at it from the perspective that if I didn’t go, we could all stick our heads in the sand and critique other cultures and nations from afar. But nothing will occur after that. There won’t be any change.”
Essentially, it says, “You have your values and your beliefs, which we will respect, but you respect our values and our beliefs,” and that is unquestionably the proper attitude.
3) On Liverpool’s playing time and England
“I was aware that I wouldn’t be playing as frequently. I was aware that fresh players would be entering my position. Anyone who knows me well, especially the manager, will understand that if I’m not playing, it can be pretty tough for me, particularly if I’ve been at a club for so long and have been the team’s captain for so long especially when I consider England to be important. The Euros are approaching.”
This is dangerously close to saying that the transfer was done for football-related reasons. Going to the Saudi League to improve your prospects of playing for England? Let’s go.
4) On Liverpool’s ambivalence
We wouldn’t be having this discussion if one of those individuals—Jurgen Klopp or Liverpool’s owners—had told me, “Now we want you to stay.” After that, I have to consider my career’s future steps. That is not to say that they pushed me to go or that they expressed a desire for me to do so, but at never time did I feel as though the club or anybody wanted me to stay.”
So, Liverpool is primarily to blame.
5) On those all-important England chances
“At this point in my career, I want to play football and be content. I’d want to play. I don’t want to start games off on the bench and then play for 10 minutes. And I was aware that would affect my prospects of representing England.”
Your prospects of playing for England are already slim to none if practically no team outside of Saudi Arabia will give you more than 10 minutes each game.
6) On wanting a new, exciting challenge
Jordan Henderson is a 33-year-old England international with 77 caps who has won the Premier League, and the Champions League, and is in excellent physical condition. Here’s what he has to say on new exciting challenges:
“I desired a stimulating experience. And that’s not to suggest that those clubs [Brighton or Brentford] wouldn’t thrill me; they’re both fantastic organizations that present a variety of interesting challenges. However, it had to be something I felt like I could contribute to, do, and attempt something new, a new challenge, and for many reasons.
This opportunity with Stevie (Gerrard) in a completely different league and culture was something entirely new that might excite us in terms of the project that was put in front of us, in terms of the league, and using my experience to try to help with that in many different areas, and in terms of the feeling that people value. Being desired is pleasant. Stevie genuinely wanted me, I knew that. I am aware that the club genuinely wanted me to leave so that we could work to create something over the next years that would endure and rank among the top leagues in the world.”
But Jordan, why? Why do you want the Saudi League to be among the greatest in the world if it is a nation that so strongly contradicts many of your stated principles? Why did that task appeal to you more than, say, coming to a team like Brighton or Brentford and attempting something different and giving “value”? Or a club in Spain, Germany, France, or any other country, for that matter.
Are we supposed to assume that Saudi Arabia’s offer was the only one that might have given an intriguing new challenge at the time or in the future?
7) On money
“People might agree with me or disagree with me, but money has never been a driving force in my life or work. Ever. Don’t get me wrong, the business arrangement needs to be tight when you relocate. You need money, you need to be desired, and you need to feel respected. Also included in it is money. However, that wasn’t the only factor. And before any talk of money, these options were raised.”
Henderson transitions from “money has never been a motivation” to “and money is a part of that” to “that wasn’t the sole reason” in just thirty words. If he could just say, “The money was so enormous it outweighed any concerns,” I’d have so much more respect, if only reluctantly.”
The same mistake that all those LIV golfers make is being made here by Henderson, who is trying to persuade everyone (though mostly, we suspect, themselves) that this is primarily or even slightly an altruistic “grow the game” endeavor in which the eye-watering absurd sums of money are of secondary or no significance. Every single reader’s intelligence is being insulted by it.
8) On being a positive influence
“I don’t work in politics. I’ve never been and have never wanted to be. I have never attempted to alter laws or regulations in England, much less in a nation I am not a native of. Therefore, I’m not claiming that’s why I’m going there. However, what I’m trying to convey is that folks and those who know me well are aware of my principles. And just because I’m moving to a nation with potentially different laws doesn’t mean that my principles alter.
I now consider that to be a good thing. I understand this since, from the Saudi side, they were aware of it before signing. So they were aware of my beliefs. They were aware of the campaigns and causes I’ve worked on in the past, but it was never mentioned. They never once stated, “You can do this, you can’t do this.”
Perhaps here is when perception and reality first clash. It’s still backward, even if we provide Henderson the benefit of the doubt and assume he genuinely, honestly believes it.
Jordan Henderson’s move to Saudi Arabia hasn’t caused any changes there. As a result of his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Jordan Henderson has changed. Whether or whether he can perceive that. His ‘values’ or ‘beliefs’ don’t matter to them because they already paid full price for them.
9) On the LGBTQ+ community
By signing an LGBTQ+ ally, Saudi Arabia is not demonstrating tolerance; rather, they are demonstrating their power: see how easily we can buy away your purported ideals and convictions.
“I can appreciate your frustration. I can appreciate the rage. I understand. I’m sorry they feel that way is all I can say in that situation.”
The standard passive-voice apology of “I’m sorry you feel that way” is it? Not “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” Although Henderson is not a politician, he has perfected the politician’s non-apology.
10) On Qatar
“However, when you talk to my close friends who have lived in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the Middle East, they say, “Well, actually, that’s not the same.”
Before Qatar would be a wonderful illustration. We discussed human rights and stadium-related problems in a meeting with the FA. I believe Amnesty may have supplied the photographs and other materials. And then, 30 minutes later, I address that scenario in a news conference or with the media. It was difficult for us to see, and I said, “Well, it was quite shocking and horrendous.” You got to meet the employees there, and it was completely different, but then I went to Qatar and we had the experience we had at the World Cup.”
Just astonishing, that’s all. The entire interview is astonishingly daring, but Henderson’s use of Qatar to support his claims may be his most audacious move yet. Jordan, what you just stated is blatant sportswashing. We find it difficult to believe that he is so uninformed about the well-managed experience of Qatar that he had while playing for England in the Sportswashing World Cup.
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