England news: LGBT+ football fans say Harry Maguire is trying to silence them after Jordan Henderson comments

Henderson has faced scrutiny ever since opting to leave Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq back in the summer.

Having long been an ally of the LGBT+ community, many felt the veteran had abandoned his morals in order to take the lucrative money on offer in the Middle East.

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After the win over Italy, Maguire jumped to Henderson's defence.

"Proper England fans don't boo players," the Manchester United star said.

"Don't boo players who dedicate their life to play and do everything they can to make this country have good memories and have special moments for them and their families.

"You heard when he came on the cheers and a few jeers, but they aren't England fans."

But a spokesperson for Three Lions Pride has condemned Maguire for his comments and accused the centre-back of trying to silence them.

They told The Mirror: "Fans have a valid voice, and ultimately there are many actions that fans can take to show their distaste with players, teams or owners.

"We’ve seen superb fan action across the game in relation to all of these aspects in the past.

"Booing is never something that fans wish to do to their own team, but it is indicative of the strength of feeling around this issue and Henderson’s choices.

"It is clear that it is not just LGBT+ fans who think that he is a Saudi sellout.

"To say that fans who follow this team loyally home and away, and at great personal expense, are not 'proper' fans gatekeeps the game - how else would Maguire like fans to register their distaste?

"There’s a lack of interest in listening to the dialogue or nuance that fans and fan groups have spent their free time raising and unfortunately that means that the only way to be heard is with direct action.

"Gatekeeping football to what a player believes makes a 'proper' fan harks back to a time where LGBT+ fans weren’t welcome and excludes people from the beautiful game.

"Fans are the soul of the game, without us there is no atmosphere.

"Attempting to silence our voice can only create a hollow environment.

"Why do members of the England squad feel the need to diminish the voice of fans because they seemingly don’t agree?

"Our views are very open and clear, for anyone to see.

"And, as always, our door remains open to constructive conversations should anybody in the England set up wish to engage."

Henderson has previously insisted he didn't move to Saudi for the money.

But he seemed to U-turn on that when quizzed on whether it was a factor in his move to the Middle East.

"Yeah, definitely, I've said that before," he said.

"I tried a little bit, I had an interview a few months ago and maybe some of the stuff I said didn't come out in the way that I thought I said it.

"An example of that would probably be in terms of when I said I didn't go out there solely for the money, I think that's a big difference.

"It's not a sole reason, rather than saying I didn't go out there for the money."

He did, however, add: "No regrets.

“I think having someone like myself, with the values that I have, in Saudi Arabia is only a good thing.

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"Before I went to Saudi people knew the groups I supported and helped in the past.

"My values haven’t changed as a person just because I’m going to a different country to play football."

And, on being booed, Henderson admitted that he didn't enjoy the experience.

"It's not nice, your own fans (booing). Everybody has got their own opinion," he said.

"I love playing for England, I have done for many years, that's why I'm still here."