Saudi’s soccer dream suffers an obstacle with star departure

England worldwide Jordan Henderson suddenly ended his playing time in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, dealing a blow to the kingdom’s enthusiastic strategies to make its domestic league a global soccer center.

Former Liverpool captain Henderson on Thursday signed a two-and-a-half-year handle Dutch side Ajax soon after the 33- year-old consented to equally end his agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq

Henderson’s U-turn on playing in the Saudi Pro League comes 6 months after his questionable choice to sign with the club. He had actually apparently been dissatisfied after stopping working to settle in the nation.

Henderson’s rash exit from Saudi Arabia marks completion of “a miserable episode in a previously exemplary career,” according to BBC Sport’s primary soccer author, and raises concerns about both the midfielder’s credibility in addition to the image of the Saudi Pro League.

“I’m sad to say that I will be leaving Al Ettifaq with immediate effect,” Henderson said Thursday by means of social networks. “It wasn’t an easy decision but one that I feel is best for me and my family.”

He included: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the club & the fans for all the support during my time. I really felt the love from Day One. I’ll keep watching & hoping for your success. Good luck for the future.”

In an interview launched by Ajax soon later, Henderson explained a “crazy” last couple of days as a “whirlwind” however that he was now delighted to start a “new chapter” in his profession and life.

Henderson had actually been among numerous prominent gamers to have actually relocated to Saudi Arabia last summer season, with previous Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and ex-Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante likewise making the switch.

Saudi Arabia has actually invested an amazing quantity on hiring soccer stars to reinforce domestic competitors in the last few years, in addition to making huge financial investments in sports such as Formula One, golf, tennis and boxing.

Critics have actually consistently implicated Riyadh of “sportswashing,” or utilizing sports to sidetrack from human rights abuses in the nation. Saudi authorities have actually regularly rejected these claims.

Henderson’s early departure from Saudi Arabia triggered numerous to hypothesize about the possible reputational damage to the nation’s leading domestic league.

“His exit has also hurt the image of the Saudi Pro League to the outside world, something it can ill-afford so early in its development and with the country determined to use it as the launchpad for its bid to stage the 2034 World Cup,” stated Phil McNulty, primary soccer author at BBC Sport.

In a declaration released on Henderson’s exit, Saad Allazeez, the vice-chairman and interim president of the Saudi Pro League, stated: “This is all just part of football, all across the world and life, across all careers. Sometimes despite best efforts people don’t always adjust or settle and that can impact performances and lead to frustrations for all.”

“Jordan is a good guy and it’s a shame that things didn’t work out for him, but he’d be the first to admit that full support was given to him and respect shown. So everyone tried and no one is to blame,” Allazeez continued, according to The Associated Press.

Shortly after Henderson’s exit from Al-Ettifaq was validated, the club stated Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard had actually signed a two-year agreement extension to remain as head coach of Al-Ettifaq till 2027.

On relocating to Saudi Arabia in 2015, some slammed Henderson– who had actually been a supporter for human rights and a singing advocate of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood– of “self-inflicted reputational damage” by relocating to a nation where same-sex sex is criminalized.

Henderson stated he had actually been “really hurt” by the reaction to his relocation, including that his objective “has always been to help causes and communities.”