“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

During his recent stint with the England national team, Ben White, a defender for Arsenal, found himself in a tense confrontation with England’s assistant manager, Steve Holland. This incident occurred amidst White’s surprising decision to step away from national team duties, catching both England manager Gareth Southgate and the technical staff off guard.

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

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

However, White’s disengagement from the England camp cannot be solely attributed to his altercation with Holland. Southgate was quick to dismiss any suggestions of animosity between White and Holland, praising White’s on-field abilities and professionalism. He emphasized that players occasionally opting out of national team selection is common, and he is committed to maintaining open dialogue and preserving relationships with players, even amidst such decisions.

Southgate’s remarks aimed to refute any insinuations of discord within the coaching staff, particularly concerning Holland’s relationship with White. He firmly rejected the idea that Holland’s purported friction with White played a role in the defender’s absence from the squad, asserting his unwillingness to let unfounded rumors tarnish the reputation of a valued member of his coaching team.