Jordan Henderson has responded to being booed by England fans during the recent friendly against Australia.
The 33-year-old was handed the captaincy by manager Gareth Southgate, as England went on to secure a one-nil win over Australia thanks to a goal from Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Henderson played 62-minutes before being replaced by Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier, with the Wembley Stadium crowd booing their own player as he exited the pitch.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Southgate outlined his disbelief at the situation, where he said: “I really don’t understand it – he is a player, I think it is 79 caps now for England.
Advert
“His commitment and what he has done for England is exceptional. His role on and off the pitch is phenomenally important.
“So yeah some people decided to boo but I really don’t understand what that is for.”
The reaction from fans arrives after Henderson accepted a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq this summer, having previously been vocal in his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Advert
In an attempt to justify his move to the Middle East, Henderson spoke to The Athletic where he claimed having him in the country could be a benefit for the previously mentioned communities. "We can all bury our heads in the sand and criticise different cultures and different countries from afar.
"But then nothing is going to happen. Nothing is going to change," he said. "Having someone with those views and values in Saudi Arabia is only a positive thing."
Henderson has since responded to being booed by his own fans, after taking to his personal Instagram account to issue the following message: “Always an honour to represent my country, never take it for granted. Extra special to lead the team out at Wembley.”
Topics: Football, England, Gareth Southgate, Jordan Henderson, Liverpool, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League