England boss Gareth Southgate breaks silence on Ben White and Steve Holland’s ‘bust up’ | Football | Sport

England manager Gareth Southgate has refused to comment on Ben White’s departure from Qatar as he doesn’t want to give the story any “credibility.” The Arsenal defender left the Three Lions World Cup squad to return home last week after reportedly having a bust-up with the team’s assistant manager Steve Holland.

Southgate was asked by talkSPORT if he could elaborate on White’s return to England. But he replied: “Well, not really. What I’ve been shown was alleged and there was another word that was used. I think by commenting on the story I could be giving it any form of credibility, really. We explained why Ben left the camp and I think it’s important that that is respected, really.”

White had only won four caps for his country ahead of the World Cup and was left out of Southgate’s squads for their Nations League matches in June and September. But after starring for Premier League table-toppers Arsenal during the early stages of the season, the 25-year-old was taken to the World Cup to offer cover at right-back and centre-back.

The defender was an unused substitute during England’s first two clashes against Iran and USA but was absent for the final group game against Wales due to illness. And the FA then released a statement last Wednesday to announce the player had departed Qatar.

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Holland and White exchanged words when the player turned up for a team meeting ahead of the group game against USA lacking vital information about his stats. Holland was also unimpressed by the ex-Brighton man’s poor knowledge of the USA team. And a mutual decision was made to release White from Qatar and send him home.

White, who made his England debut in a friendly against Austria in June 2021 and has also represented his country against Romania, Switzerland and Ivory Coast, was part of the Three Lions squad that reached the final of Euro 2020. But he failed to play a game in that tournament and could now be faced with a long road back if he is to represent his country again under Southgate.