Ben White admits England fans ‘would not be booing’ if they knew the real reason he walked away from Three Lions squad

Arsenal defender Ben White stated that England supporters would not boo him if they understood why he left the 2022 World Cup. Speaking to talkSPORT, the 29-year-old acknowledged hearing negative reactions from fans during recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. While declining to detail specific events or criticize others, White noted poor communication occurred and stood by his choice to depart the tournament squad in Qatar.

White returned to international duty under manager Thomas Tuchel after previously being sidelined by a knee injury suffered against West Ham. The defender praised Tuchel's proactive outreach and communication, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to rejoin England for the final matches of 2026.