Boos for Henderson spark debate in England – 10/20/2023 – Marina Izidro

In 1998, David Beckham seemed to be the most hated man in England.

In the round of 16 of the World Cup against Argentina, he retaliated against a free kick by Diego Simeone. He was expelled, the England team was eliminated, and Beckham was considered one of the culprits.

In the documentary series about his life released on Netflix, he tells how, for months, he was insulted in the street and booed in stadiums. “The whole country hated me”, said the former captain/star/celebrity.

English football, which was once so frowned upon during the hooligan era, is now one of the most civilized in the world. Going to a stadium means following a series of rules, but booing is cultural, there’s no way around it. Some are offended, others don’t care, some use it as an incentive.

Wayne Rooney gave a sarcastic response to English boos after a match for the national team in 2010: “Nice to see his own fans booing him. That’s what I call loyalty.”

Frank Lampard has heard a lot – he was targeted in the draw with Brazil at Wembley the same year, when he said that “it’s part of playing for England”. He didn’t mind the boos in April this year after Chelsea’s fifth straight defeat as interim manager. “The fans want us to win. When we lose, I understand the frustration.”

This week, defender Harry Maguire took on the pain of teammate Jordan Henderson, booed at Wembley in matches against Australia and Italy – the latter guaranteed England’s place at Euro-2024. The respected former Liverpool captain, defender of LGBTQIA+ rights, has become persona non grata in some circles since leaving the Premier League for the league in Saudi Arabia, a country that criminalizes homosexuality.

Maguire, who has suffered at the hands of Manchester United fans and the national team, said anyone who boos Henderson is not a true England fan.

The subject was so debated here in the UK that a website even published a report entitled “11 English players booed by their own fans”. For those who are curious, the list includes Henderson, Maguire, Beckham, Lampard, Rooney, John Terry, Peter Crouch, Joe Gomez, Ashley Cole, John Barnes and Owen Hargreaves.

Brazilians also enjoy being booed, whether to show impatience or put pressure on the opponent. I remember how at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, Renaud Lavillenie was angry when he was booed in the pole vault final against Thiago Braz. The Brazilian won Olympic gold, the Frenchman called the audience “football fans” and “a shame for Rio”.

The Henderson case exposes the increasingly complex relationship between geopolitics and athletes, clubs and sports organizations. The 33-year-old midfielder has always had a good reputation and is a leading figure.

But the issue is not just the fact that he was accused of abandoning his moral values ​​in exchange for a salary, according to the English press, of 700 thousand pounds per week (almost R$4.5 million). Or having publicly supported the Saudi bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

Asked why he continues to choose Henderson, England coach Gareth Southgate defended him, but admitted that he is analyzing whether the player will continue to have the same performance in a championship with much less quality and intensity than the Premier League. And Henderson himself said that he noticed the difference in level between the two leagues. That, yes, more than a few boos, should be worrying.

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