21 November 2023 , 19:57
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John Barnes has launched a strong defence of Jordan Henderson's Saudi Arabia move insisting footballers shouldn't be judged any different to other sports stars.
The ex-Liverpool skipper chose to call time on his Anfield stay in the summer and headed to the Saudi Pro League. He teamed up with ex-teammate Steven Gerrard, who had been appointed manager of Al-Ettifaq.
Henderson is understood to have significantly increased his earnings as Saudi Arabia threw huge sums at recruiting European-based players. The country's record on human rights and LGBTQ issues has copped criticism and those who decided to ply their trade there have been questioned as a result.
But while footballers, Henderson among them, have been called out, Barnes has pointed out how other sports like Formula 1, boxing and golf all have events in the kingdom, citing double standards. Speaking ahead of his Quality Street sustainability campaign, he said: "If anybody decides to make a decision for themselves or their family I support them.
"We are governed by the Government and if they see fit to do business with Saudi Arabia or Qatar as they do, getting into bed with them financially, why can't an individual do that? You can't have it both ways. Why are footballers being held to a different standard?
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"Why are boxers allowed to go, golfers allowed to go, F1 drivers allowed to go, yet are footballers being held to a different standard? Until they say Lewis Hamilton can't go and race, Anthony Joshua can't go and box, then there's a question to be had over footballers. Until that happens, footballers should be treated like every other sportsman."
Henderson is the only major English name to head to the Middle East, but the likes of Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Neves all departed the Premier League to take up lucrative contracts with outfits in the Saudi Pro League.
Jordan Henderson left Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq in the summer (Getty Images)Specific criticism was levelled at Henderson after he came out in support of the LGBTQ community during his Anfield days. He regularly donned a rainbow-coloured armband while at Liverpool and spoke about the issues they faced. Homosexuality is a crime in Saudi Arabia so the England midfielder was called out by those he once claimed to stand beside.
He previously told the Athletic: "I can't promise anything, but what I can do is sit here and say I have my values and beliefs. And I strongly believe that me playing in Saudi Arabia is a positive thing."
* Quality Street and footballing legend Barnes have teamed up for the ultimate Christmas collab - creating a rap music video to celebrate the brand’s recyclable paper wrappers ahead of the Festive period. You can view the video HERE as the man who appeared in England's World Cup song, ‘World in Motion', returns to the rap scene after 33 years.