“I won’t pick his calls again after what he did”- Arsenal star Ben White exposed how Gareth Southgate and other England international players mocked and frustrated him untill he left the England World cup camp in tears back in 2022

Arsenal defender Ben White involved in ‘angry exchange’ during last England stint

During his last stint with the England national team, Arsenal defender Ben White found himself embroiled in a heated confrontation with England’s assistant manager, Steve Holland. The incident reportedly unfolded amid the backdrop of White’s decision to step away from national team duties, a move that caught both England manager Gareth Southgate and the team’s technical staff by surprise.

Speaking at a press conference, Southgate disclosed that White had communicated his unavailability for selection directly to him, while Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, conveyed the decision to John McDermott, the technical director for England. Despite these communications, the reasons behind White’s withdrawal remained shrouded in mystery, with Southgate admitting his own lack of insight into the defender’s motivations for opting out of England’s campaign at Euro 2024.

Insights provided by The Athletic shed light on a tense exchange between White and Holland during England’s World Cup campaign in Qatar. Allegedly, Holland felt frustrated by White’s perceived disregard for tactical instructions and training data. Moreover, White’s candid admission about his waning enthusiasm for football further fueled tensions, as he expressed a preference to unwind away from the game following exhaustive training sessions and meetings.

White’s disengagement from the England camp, however, cannot be directly attributed to his altercation with Holland. Southgate was quick to dispel any notions of animosity between White and Holland, affirming his admiration for White’s on-field prowess and professionalism. He underscored the common occurrence of players occasionally opting out of national team selection, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining an open dialogue and preserving relationships with players, even amidst such decisions.

The England manager’s remarks sought to refute any insinuations of discord within the coaching staff, particularly regarding Holland’s rapport with White. Southgate adamantly rejected the notion that Holland’s purported friction with White played a role in the defender’s absence from the squad, asserting his unwillingness to allow unsubstantiated rumors to tarnish the reputation of a valued member of his coaching team.