Carragher: Footballers will think very carefully about speaking out on inclusivity issues after Henderson furore

Jamie Carragher believes that the precedent has been set where the silence of Footballers will be bought for risk of offending their future employers.

This week saw Jordan Henderson depart the club that he has led to domestic and European glory to take up a mammoth offer to play under Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.

In his time as Liverpool captain, Henderson regularly spoke out in support of the LGBTQ community and the causes that they are fighting for and in turn his standing away from the game of Football was greatly enhanced.

However all that fine advocacy has been wiped away in an instant with the decision by the midfielder to move to the Middle East nation where Homosexuality is deemed illegal.

Writing in his Telegraph column (per the Echo), Carragher believes that the decision that the former captain has made risks having a lasting effect on a personal level and in general.

“Henderson has a big problem to deal with because of his previous remarks in support of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“I fully understand that criticism and it is justified. Jordan was heralded on the back of his speaking out so he has difficult questions to answer, and the critical reaction towards him will have a negative impact moving forward for those communities who cherish support from high profile figures.”

And the club legend also believes that this will have a knock-on effect for Footballers in the future who are thinking of joining the Saudi league which leads to another problem altogether.

"When other footballers hear the criticism directed at him, they will not say ‘I can’t go to Saudi.

“They will be told by their advisors to keep their mouth shut in case they move there in future, thus avoiding accusations of hypocrisy.

"That will equate to buying silence - a grave impact of sportswashing. This is where Fifa and other sporting bodies have also been open to criticism and should have been stronger. 

“Governing bodies have the power to say countries will not be allowed to host major sporting events unless they meet human rights requirements. You can’t preach inclusive values only to turn a blind eye when the price is right and not expect criticism."

In a playing sense, Carragher thought the move made sense for both Henderson and Liverpool but the Premier League would be smart to be on guard for future move.

“When you separate the emotion of his transfer from what he has achieved for the club, he leaves as a Liverpool legend. That is not a debate. It is a deal which suits the player and club. Liverpool have not stood in Henderson’s way which shows they considered it a good move financially.

“The most serious consequences for the Premier League and Champions League will come when such offers are accepted by and for those in their early or mid-20s rather than early 30s."