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Topics: Liverpool, Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Jordan Henderson, Gabriel Magalhaes
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Liverpool, Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Jordan Henderson, Gabriel Magalhaes
New details have emerged from the row between Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
Henderson and Gabriel clashed during Arsenal's 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Emirates earlier this month.
The pair were involved in a heated argument after Arsenal were awarded a controversial late penalty in the Premier League match.
Henderson and Gabriel had to be separated by their teammates, with referee Michael Oliver receiving a complaint from the Arsenal defender over something Henderson is alleged to have said during the confrontation.
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His complaint led to the Football Association launching an investigation into the matter, which involved taking witness statements from both sets of players, with a professional lip-reader reportedly hired to analyse footage of the incident.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the FA had cleared Henderson following the conclusion of its investigation.
Daily Mail columnist Martin Samuel has shed more light on the matter, claiming that Brazil international Gabriel made his initial complaint after believing Henderson insulted him with an offensive word in Portuguese.
"Henderson is believed to have told the investigation he called Gabriel a 'f****** idiot'. Gabriel believed he used another, far worse word in Portuguese," wrote Samuel.
"None of the other players questioned, from Arsenal or Liverpool, could confirm. Nobody asserted Gabriel was insincere, merely mistaken.
"So now, the balance of probability. For Henderson to use such a word would demonstrate a command of Portuguese-Brazilian dialect that he simply does not possess.
"So we would have to believe he researched how best to offend - despite being the admired captain of a cosmopolitan Liverpool dressing room - or been taught by one of his Brazilian or Portuguese team-mates, half of whom are of ethnic origin.
"On the balance of probability, therefore, the accusation goes away."
The FA's decision to clear Henderson is a major relief for both Liverpool and England, with the World Cup now just weeks away.
The midfielder is expected to be included in Gareth Southgate's final squad for the tournament, which begins on November 20.
Henderson's immediate focus, however, will be on Liverpool's next game at home Leeds United on Saturday.