Harry Maguire has come to the defence of Jordan Henderson, claiming that true England fans do not boo players.
The jeering occurred when Henderson was substituted during the match against Australia and when he came on as a substitute in the victory over Italy. A portion of the crowd cheered his entry during the Italy game, but boos persisted.
The cause of this disapproval appears to be Henderson’s transfer to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. This move led some to question Henderson’s standing as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, with Thomas Hitzlsperger suggesting that his LGBTQ+ advocacy “brand” had faded. Henderson acknowledged the criticism but stressed that it doesn’t change who he is as a person.
Maguire, who has faced boos himself from England and Manchester United supporters, firmly stated, “Proper England fans don’t boo players. Don’t boo players who dedicate their life to play and create special moments for their families.”
RELATED: Kieran Trippier Defends Jordan Henderson Following Wembley Boos: ‘We Stick Together’
🗣️ “Well, proper England fans don’t boo players. Don’t boo players that play for your country and dedicate their life to playing and do everything they can to make this country have good memories.”
Harry Maguire claims fans that boo their own players aren’t real fans. ✊ pic.twitter.com/1uTFB5yvRS
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 18, 2023
RELATED: Gareth Southgate Slams England Fans’ Boos For Jordan Henderson: ‘It Defies Logic’
Henderson had previously defended Maguire when the latter faced similar treatment from the England fans during a friendly against Ivory Coast.
“Harry Maguire has been a colossus for England,” Henderson wrote at the time. “Without him, the progress made at the last two tournaments would not have been possible.
“To be booed at his home stadium for no reason? What have we become? What happened tonight was just wrong.”
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, criticised the booing of Henderson and dismissed the idea that it was related to his support for Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid. Southgate emphasised Henderson’s contributions to the team and called the boos “defying logic.”
Related Football Content
- Football Betting Tips 2023 – Latest Picks & Football Tips
- Football Predictions October 2023
- Football Accumulator Tips 2023 – Latest Acca Betting Tips
- Best Correct Score Tipsters on Telegram & Social Media 2023
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!