Southgate responds to report of Ben White bust-up with England coach at World Cup

Will Ford
England boss Gareth Southgate speaks to the media

Gareth Southgate was asked about a report which claimed Ben White returned home from the World Cup as a result of a bust-up with England coach Steve Holland.

The FA stated that White had  left the squad due to ‘personal reasons’, releasing the following statement:

“Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons.

“The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament.

“We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time.”

But the Daily Star claimed a disagreement with Holland was the reason for what was a ‘mutual decision’ to leave the camp.

The report claimed the Arsenal star ‘became unhappy in the England camp and struggled to mix with his fellow teammates’.

And an argument between White and Holland in front of the rest of the squad was ‘the final straw’.

Things are said to have got heated when White turned up to a team meeting ahead of England’s Group B clash with the USA not knowing ‘vital information relating to his personal stats’.

Holland was also reportedly ‘less than impressed with White’s poor knowledge of England’s American opponents’.

The FA declined to comment, while White’s agent failed to respond when contacted, but Southgate was asked about the report in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final clash with France.

Asked if he could elaborate on the claims, Southgate responded: “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.”

Southgate was also asked whether Raheem Sterling would play against France.

“We will have to assess that,” Southgate said.

“He has missed a lot of training and had two long flights. That is not good preparation for a game of this standard but let’s see how he is.”

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