Harry Maguire: True England supporters do not boo players

England's Harry Maguire has voiced his displeasure at the England fans who jeered Jordan Henderson during the October internationals, labeling them as not being 'real fans'.

Henderson, as captain of the Three Lions, was booed by a large portion of the crowds at Wembley upon being subbed during the unimpressive 1-0 victory over Australia on Friday.

Over the summer, Henderson made a controversial move from Liverpool to Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, raising eyebrows due to his vocal support for the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Henderson and England’s manager Gareth Southgate, who has continuously supported the 33-year-old player, both admitted they could not fathom why he was subjected to such treatment from the supporters.

Despite getting booed, he still managed to receive a somewhat warmer welcome off the bench during Tuesday's 3-1 home win against Italy, although some booing still occurred.

In a post-match press interaction, Maguire, who has also been on the receiving end of severe criticism from his own supporters, came to the defense of Henderson.

He stated, 'Real England fans don’t partake in berating players. They certainly don’t mock players who are dedicated to their country and strive to offer memorable and noteworthy moments for the country, the fans, and their own families.'

He continued, 'I am acquainted with several loyal England fans who've supported me since my debut. They stand by me as well as Jordan.' He concluded, 'Yes, you do hear cheers and also a few jeers, but those participating in the latter are not true England fans.'

Tuesday's triumph against Italy helped England clinch their spot in Euro 2024. They have now qualified for the final tournament set to be hosted in Germany next summer.

The first half of the match saw Italy’s Gianluca Scamacca scoring the opener before Harry Kane equalized through a penalty. After half time, a quick counterattack saw Marcus Rashford put England in the lead. Kane then ensured England's qualification by scoring a spectacular solo goal.