by The rift that led to Ben White’s self-imposed England exile began with a barbed comment by Gareth Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland in front of the team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sports telegraph The fallout that led to White finally trying to come home from England Doha medal at the World Cup in November of that year began with a conversation between the player and Holland in front of other members of the squad. Sources said it had started when Holland asked Kyle Walker about Manchester City’s performance the previous season.
When asked White about Arsenal, the 26-year-old said he didn’t know the answer. It is claimed that Holland responded by saying that it was because White was not interested enough in football. It was that moment that finally caused the player to ask to come home on November 30.
The exchange was understood to be days before the player asked to leave the England camp in Doha. Until that request was delivered, Southgate and his team thought there was no longer any question between White and Holland. There was no confrontation or conflict – public or private – between the two. After the initial comment from Holland, the two men exchanged their views in a private conversation on the same day.
The FA announced on November 30 that White had left the hotel in Al Wakrah for “personal reasons” and asked that his privacy be respected.
Details of the original exchange between Holland and White that led to the split suggest the player’s issue was its public nature, occurring as it did in front of a group of his peers. The question of the respect given to the player seems to be at the heart of the problem. White was not in the first choice XI in that tournament, although it is not understood that this was the main reason for the dissatisfaction with him.
Southgate announced last week that the Arsenal defender was not available for selection for England – adding that he did not know why that was. Southgate also said he was not involved in White’s relationship with Holland, his long-term assistant in England. Addressing the issue on Thursday, Southgate said: “Also, I should say there is never any problem with Steve Holland [and White]because that’s mentioned in articles and I don’t like that.”
The issue has become quite significant as not only did the split come back from Qatar immediately after the group final against Great Britain, but it also meant he chose not to play afterwards . Southgate said the player was “eager” to return to international duty when he spoke to him in the months after Qatar.
It is not clear how much effort Southgate has made to recall White from the World Cup. Arsenal sporting director Edu referred the decision on the latest squad, with games against Brazil and Belgium over the next six days, to his FA counterpart John McDermott.
The Football Association has declined to comment. Arsenal declined to comment. There are also White representatives. Southgate is adamant that the issue does not concern Holland. He said last week: “People can talk about me, and I have to accept that things are said about me that are untrue. For any reason in this role, you almost have to stomach that. But I’m not happy for that to happen to a key member of my coaching staff because that’s not why Ben isn’t available for selection.”
On the morning of Southgate’s squad announcement last week, Arsenal also announced that White had signed a new deal at the club until 2028 with the option of another year. He was accompanied by video testimonials from his teammates. The club have revealed that the announcement was always planned for that day, although it appeared to observers to be a way to soften an expected negative reaction to what Southgate later revealed.
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Southgate has said the door is still open for White to play for England, should he change his mind. White said in a recent interview with Telegraph Sport and other media that the perception that he doesn’t love the game is not true. He likes games and training but has less interest outside of that. “I know people say I don’t like football,” he said this month. “I go home and football is not on my mind. I can be a normal person, relax. [But] when I’m here, it’s tough.”
