Gareth Southgate has said criticism of Jordan Henderson “defies logic” after the midfielder was booed by some England fans during Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia.
The 33-year-old was named captain in an experimental lineup but a smattering of supporters jeered his name when the teams were read out before kick-off and many more of the 81,116-strong crowd joined in when he was substituted on 62 minutes.
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Henderson made a controversial but lucrative move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia side Al Ettifaq in the summer, triggering a backlash from the LGBTQIA+ community he had previously championed.
In Saudi Arabia, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including foreigners, “risk imprisonment and corporal punishment for same-sex relations, expressing their identity or support for LGBT rights,” according to Amnesty International.
