Ben White has discussed leaving England’s 2022 World Cup squad after departing the national camp in Qatar for “personal reasons”. The Arsenal defender said he would probably make the same decision again.
Leaving the Qatar camp
White subsequently ruled himself out of selection for the remainder of Sir Gareth Southgate’s time in charge. He returned under Thomas Tuchel in March.
Supporters and the Uruguay friendly
During a friendly against Uruguay before injury ruled him out of the World Cup, White was booed by supporters, scored and later gave away a penalty.
White’s explanation
White told talkSPORT: “It’s something that I’ve not spoken about, and I won’t go into detail about it. Yes, it’s a decision that I don’t want to be talking about anyone negatively or throwing anyone under the bus.”
White said there had been loads of things that happened and that communication was not great. He added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Obviously, I was a bit younger. I’m a bit older now. I think, as a person, I’m quite real, and I think I made the decision that I would probably continue to make.”
The Independent writes that White believes England supporters would not boo him if they knew the complete story behind his departure. The basis of White’s alleged falling out with Steve Holland is thought to be an interview in which White admitted to not watching football on television.
White said: “To be fair, I don’t. I don’t know if I actually said I don’t like it because people say I don’t like football, which is obviously not true. It’s because I don’t watch it, which I think is quite normal for someone who does a job and then doesn’t go home and then continue watching that job. But I think it’s my way of release from the game because it’s so intense, obviously.”
