Ben White talks about leaving England for the first time and says fans ‘wouldn’t have booed’ him if they had understood.
Ben White has finally opened up about why he suddenly left the England camp during the 2022 World Cup, just as the new international break begins.
White, now part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Croatia and Spain, hadn’t played for England for over three years after going home from the Qatar World Cup for “personal reasons.”
This story came to light before Euro 2024, when then-England manager Gareth Southgate said Arsenal had told him White wouldn’t be available. Reports said a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland in Qatar was one of the reasons behind White stepping back.
White, the Arsenal right-back, hadn’t talked publicly about this until now, even when he was booed by some fans after coming on as a substitute during England’s friendly against Uruguay in March.
“People can react how they want,” White told The Telegraph about the boos. “Maybe they don’t know the full story, and if they did, maybe they wouldn’t boo. It is what it is. There are reasons for what happened, and now I’m just focused on playing for England and doing well.
“That night was full of emotions. I got booed, then I scored, then I gave away a penalty. It was a bit crazy, but a good night. The boos didn’t bother me much. I had a great time playing for England.
“A lot has been said about why I left the squad. I’ve seen it all, but people don’t know the full story because I never spoke about it. Communication wasn’t great, and there were lots of things that happened. But I won’t blame anyone or share details—I think that’s fair. It was tricky and not simple, but I’m just happy to be back now.
“I don’t regret the decision I made. It’s something I’d make again. I’m not happy it happened, but it did, and it’s time to move forward.”
In 2024, it was said that part of the disagreement with Holland was about a claim that White didn’t like football—a claim he strongly denies.
“People say I don’t like football, but that’s not true,” he said. “I just don’t watch it much, which I think is normal for someone who works in it and then wants to switch off after work. It’s my way to relax because football can be intense.”
Unlike Southgate, who didn’t say much about White’s England future, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was positive after picking him for the latest squad.
“This is a closed chapter now,” Tuchel said. “Everyone saw how much Ben invested in the game and the quality he showed in the March camp before the World Cup.
“When I talk to him, I can feel his hunger and excitement to be back. He missed the last camp but is a key player for Arsenal, especially since we have injuries and changes. This is a chance for Ben to shine again. He deserves to start fresh and get positive support from the fans.”