Ben White opts out of England squad
BEN White’s decision to withdraw from international football was almost two years in the making, but it originated from a pointed remark from Gareth Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland.
As he announced the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Brazil last week, Southgate revealed that White had asked not to be considered.
It came after the Arsenal full-back left the England camp midway through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to ‘personal reasons’, with later reports he had a bust-up with Holland.
And according to the Telegraph, the rift between the pair was sparked by Holland questioning White’s interest in football while England were in Qatar in November 2022.
Southgate’s assistant reportedly asked Kyle Walker a question related to Manchester City’s performances in the previous season, before posing the same question to White in regards to Arsenal.
The 26-year-old allegedly claimed he did not know the answer, leading Holland to claim that was down to his lack of interest in football.
The conversation is said to have happened in front of other members of the squad.
On November 30, a day after England beat Wales 3-0 in their final group game, the FA announced White had left camp and returned home.
According to the Telegraph, White was particularly upset by the public nature of the conversation, rather than by Holland’s specific comment.
White has previously admitted he was never a football fan when he was younger and rarely watches matches to this day.
Speaking in 2021, he said: ‘No I never watched football when I was younger, still don’t now.
“I just loved the game, I was always playing it — never watching it. So I don’t know too much about older generations.
“I know [Patrick Vieira] was a very good player. But I wouldn’t know the details. I’m quite busy, I’m always doing something.
“I watch myself for analytical reasons. I watch England, maybe. I just wouldn’t just sit down and watch a game.’
In April, he reiterated the point when he revealed he did not watch Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool, despite the fact Pep Guardiola’s team and Arsenal were involved in the title race.
“I don’t watch football so I was just focused on the game today and that was it,’ White said.
“There’s a lot of noise going on outside, and everyone is just keeping it very quiet and just getting on with what we are doing.
“I don’t really know what’s right or wrong, I have never been in this position [competing in a title race] before. So, we are just keeping quiet, heads down and working hard.”
Meanwhile, Southgate has steadfastly maintained there were no issues between Holland and the Arsenal defender in Qatar.
“People can talk about me, and I have to accept that things get said that are false about me,’ he said last week when asked about White’s decision to make himself unavailable for selection.
“For whatever reason in this role, you have to almost stomach that. But I’m not prepared for that to happen for a key member of my coaching team because that is not the reason Ben is unavailable for selection.’
The England manager also revealed he had not tried to persuade the Arsenal defender to reverse his decision, suggesting he felt White was unlikely to change his mind.
“I think it would be a similar conversation to the last one I had with him [after Qatar], and I could sense a reticence there which I felt I should back away from. I think it’s for him now.’
During his squad announcement last week, the England head coach also revealed he had been informed of White’s decision after Arsenal sporting director Edu personally spoke with his FA counterpart John McDermott over the phone.
When asked about White’s feelings about playing for England, Southgate replied: ‘I’m not able to articulate that.
“You’d have to speak to him or Arsenal to get an understanding of that. There have been players over the years in my time who didn’t want to be available.
“I’ve had that since we’ve been here. It’s not the only time [a player has turned down a call up]”.
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