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LONDON. — Ben White returned home from England’s FIFA World Cup camp following a alleged bust-up with assistant boss Steve Holland.
White left the Three Lions’ Al Wakrah training base in Qatar last week to go back to London, with the FA citing personal reasons.
It’s understood the Arsenal defender became unhappy in the England camp and struggled to mix with his fellow team-mates.
And the final straw came when he had a fall out with Gareth Southgate’s No. 2 Holland in front of the rest of the squad.
The pair are understood to have exchanged words when White turned up for a team meeting ahead of the Group B clash with the USA not knowing some vital information relating to his personal stats.
Holland is also said to have been less than impressed with White’s poor knowledge of England’s American opponents.
A mutual decision was made to release him from the tournament and the defender will not return to Qatar.
White, who had been involved in his first World Cup, failed to appear in three Group B matches for the Three Lions and missed the 3-0 win over Wales due to illness.
White was followed home by Raheem Sterling, who flew back to London following a break in at his home.
But unlike White, Sterling has headed back to Qatar to rejoin the squad and is expected to be on the bench when England take on reigning champions France in today’s quarter-final showdown in Doha.
The FA declined to comment, while White’s agent failed to respond when contacted.
”We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time,” the FA statement said.
His club then tweeted: ”We’re all with you, Ben.” Several Arsenal players have since posted messages of support to the 25-year-old on social media.
White has also not travelled on the Gunners’ mid-World Cup warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
The defender had started all 14 English Premier League games before the World Cup break, helping his side to the top of the table and earning him a call-up to Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar.
Southgate did not replace White – whose fiancee, Milly Adams, attended the draw with the USA – as he already has defensive cover for first choice pairing Harry Maguire and John Stones with Conor Coady and Eric Dier.
White has also played right-back for Arsenal this season but Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold can fill that position for England.
Holland (52) was assistant manager at Chelsea before joining the England set-up, first with the Under-21s, and then moving up to the senior side.
With England, he has always worked next to Southgate and was a member of the coaching team when the Three Lions reached last year’s Euro 2020 final.
England are currently preparing for today’s quarter-final against France after sweeping aside Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday.
And the reports of the reasons behind White’s departure are likely to overshadow the days leading up to the crunch clash.
White was a late replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s squad for Euro 2020 last summer, and played no part in their run to the final.
Sterling also left the England camp after his house was burgled, but the FA confirmed on Thursday that he would return to Qatar.
Meanwhile, White previously admitted to never watching football – before his lack of homework at the World Cup ultimately cost him his England spot.
Arsenal defender White left the Three Lions squad ahead of their second group game against the USA. And Daily Star Sport have now revealed it was because of an alleged bust-up with Southgate’s assistant Holland.
White was understood to have been unhappy in the camp and struggled to mix with his team-mates. But it was agreed to send him home after he allegedly clashed with Holland for not knowing vital information about his own personal stats, as well as the upcoming American opponents.
However, it should have come as no surprise that he hadn’t brushed up – because he admitted after joining the Gunners last year that he doesn’t ever watch games.
“No I never watched football when I was younger, still don’t now,” he told Sky Sports. “I just loved the game, I was always playing it – never watching it. So I don’t know too much about older generations.”
White’s knowledge of football growing up was so lacking that he never saw Gunners legend Patrick Vieira, whose shirt he now wears, play during his time with the club.
He said: “I know he was a very good player. But I wouldn’t know the details. I’m quite busy, I’m always doing something.”
Ironically, White did go on to add: “I watch myself for analytical reasons. I watch England, maybe. I just wouldn’t just sit down and watch a game.”
But it seems he didn’t stick to that in Qatar. — The Daily Star.
Online Reporter