'Slaps me in my face' - UK's only openly gay male footballer Jake Daniels criticises Jordan Henderson Saudi Arabia move
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Published 23/11/2023 at 11:30 GMT
Jordan Henderson's decision to move to Saudi Arabia felt like a "slap in the face" to the UK's only openly gay male footballer, Jake Daniels. The 18-year-old Blackpool player became the first active male British player to come out in more than 30 years in 2022, and received support from Henderson at the time. But "money must mean more" to the England international, Daniels told the BBC.
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Jake Daniels, the only openly gay male footballer in the UK, says Jordan Henderson’s summer move to Saudi Arabia "slaps me in my face” after previous support from the England international.
Blackpool player Daniels came out as gay in May 2022, becoming the first active professional male player to do so in 32 years, since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
Henderson messaged Daniels with support at the time, but the England midfielder’s subsequent move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabia hit the 18-year-old hard.
"He [Henderson] was backing me and said: 'We're proud of what you've done',” Daniels told the BBC.
"Seeing him move to Saudi, it kind of like, slaps me in my face really. But I guess the money pays well, and money must mean more to people."
Henderson came in for criticism for his move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relations are illegal, with campaigners and fan groups highlighting the perceived hypocrisy of him championing LGBTQI+ rights before making the move.
Henderson insisted in an interview in September that he still cared about LGBTQ+ issues and said “it hurts” to suggest otherwise.
But Daniels called Henderson’s move “frustrating” and said they have not spoken since.
Steven Gerrard, who is managing Henderson at Al-Ettifaq, was another figure in the game who reached out to Daniels before heading to Saudi Arabia.
Daniels said: "I met him [Gerrard] in person, and he said: 'If you ever want to get in contact then message me' - but he moved over. It was frustrating so many people moved over.”
Daniels also expressed concerns about the World Cup that is set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2034, coming hot on the heels of last year’s tournament in Qatar – another country where homosexuality is illegal.
"We were starting to see a bit of progress," he said.
"Then the Qatar World Cup happens, and we go back again. If I was involved in the World Cup and went over, I wouldn't feel safe, and that's putting my football in jeopardy.”
Daniels is one of very few openly gay active male footballers; Jakub Jankto of Cagliari and Josh Cavallo of Adelaide United are the only top-flight players in the world to have come out.
But the teenager said making the announcement has been transformative for him.
"It has been crazy since coming out," Daniels said. "I didn't think it would blow up as much as it did. The reception I've had, the people I've met, it's been a crazy experience.
"Coming out was the best thing I've ever done. I'm playing better now."
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