Ben White says people “don’t know the full story” behind his walk-out from England’s World Cup camp in Qatar, and the Arsenal defender insists he would make the same call again.
The 29-year-old has kept quiet about it for four years. He left the squad in Qatar in 2022 to return home for personal reasons, then made himself unavailable for the rest of Gareth Southgate’s time in charge, and never explained why.
Now he is back with the Three Lions for the Nations League double-header, and he has finally been asked about it, without giving anything away about what actually happened.
What did Ben White say about leaving England?
Ben White was asked by BBC Radio 5 Live’s football correspondent John Murray what he would say to people who define his England career by Qatar. His answer made it clear he will not be the one to tell the story.
White said: “I think obviously people don’t know the full story, because I [have] never said anything and I won’t put anyone under the bus or share any of that. I think that is probably the best way. It’s been amazing [though], obviously a bit tricky and not straightforward, but it is amazing to be here now.”
That line about not putting “anyone under the bus” is as close as he has come to suggesting there was more to it than a simple decision to go home. He clearly has no intention of going further.
Would he do anything differently?
No, and he did not hesitate. White said: “No, I don’t think I would. Obviously, I was a bit younger, I am a bit older now. I think as a person I am quite real and I think I made the decision that I would probably continue to make. So, one that I am not happy about, but obviously it happened and [it is] time to move on.”
“Not happy about” but no regrets. It is an honest way of putting it, and it fits the player Gooners know: quiet, private and completely unbothered by what people think of him off the pitch.
A comeback night full of emotion
His first England game in more than three years came in March, a 1-1 draw at Wembley. Some fans booed him when he came on, then he scored, then he gave away the penalty for the equaliser.
White said: “Before the game I was thinking ‘don’t not stand out, but [take it] nice and easy’. Then I came on and obviously got booed, then I scored, then I gave away a penalty. So, it was obviously full of emotions that night, [but] it was a good night.”
Thomas Tuchel has stood by him since, saying recently that the defender deserves “a new chapter” and “positive feedback from the crowd”. An injury late last season then cost White his place at the World Cup, and this is his first England call-up since March.
Croatia and then the world champions
White has six caps and wants more this week. England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November, then travel to Madrid to face world champions Spain three days later.
He is one of five Gunners in Tuchel’s squad, with Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, Eberechi Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly, as set out in our guide to Arsenal’s internationals this month. Raya, Zubimendi and Merino will be waiting for them in Spain’s squad.
White said: “It is obviously an amazing privilege to be called up. The feeling is the same every time you do get this chance to play for England. It’s one I am really looking forward to this week.”
Is Ben White’s England story finally closed?
As far as he is concerned, yes. He has said what he is willing to say, which is almost nothing, and he has made it clear that nobody else will get dragged into it.
That is probably the right call. The more he talks about Qatar, the longer it follows him. Two good games against Croatia and Spain would do far more to change how England fans see him than any interview, and he arrives in camp with Arsenal six points clear at the top. The boos in March should be the last he hears.
