Ben White’s Eventful England Return: From Silencing Critics with a Goal to Conceding a Penalty

Ben White faced boos from England fans as he made a tumultuous comeback to international football after a four-year absence due to a self-imposed break.

The 28-year-old Arsenal defender left England’s World Cup squad during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, reportedly due to a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland.

Since then, White had declined opportunities to rejoin Gareth Southgate’s team, only returning this week as an emergency substitute for the injured Jarell Quansah.

Despite the controversy surrounding his return, the Wembley crowd expressed their disapproval by booing when his name was announced.

However, White quickly turned the tide by scoring a goal just 12 minutes after taking the field, silencing the critics and putting England in the lead. His previous appearance for the national team was against Ivory Coast on March 29, 2022.

Ben White was booed by England fans as he made his international return after four years

The Arsenal defender looked to have silenced the boo boys though as he put England ahead

Cole Palmer’s corner was hooked on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and White tapped home from less than a yard out. 

However, White returned to being the villain in added time as he gave away a penalty after he was adjudged to have fouled Federico Vinas following a VAR review, and Federico Valverde tucked home the spot kick to rescue a draw for Uruguay. 

‘It was too good to be true when he scored the winner which in the end was not a winner,’ England boss Tuchel said of White’s display. ‘In the end he was perhaps too greedy in his defensive actions but it was not a penalty.’

On the boos, he added: ‘This happened before to some players here which is disappointing because I don’t think it helps anyone. There was a mixed reaction.’

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the game, Tuchel had revealed that White was planning to ‘clear the air’ with his team-mates who were there in Qatar, which included Jude Bellingham, Jordan Pickford and Harry Kane. 

‘Everyone deserves a second chance, but I don’t even know if he did something wrong or what exactly happened,’ said the England boss. ‘If you believe it or not, I didn’t hear a story about it. I asked him and he didn’t want to speak about it. 

‘I didn’t want to know about it because I think he deserves a second chance. He has not put a foot wrong with me. Something must have happened, because if a player leaves from a tournament it’s never good and it never can be nothing.

‘But an explanation among the players who were there, to clear the air, is sure in progress. I’m not sure if ‘apologise’ is the right word, but maybe just to clear the air with the players who were there, I think he has done and will do with the majority of the players who come now.’

He also urged fans not to boo White if he did play against Uruguay, a call they ultimately ignored.

‘I hope everyone can support, because he plays for England and we play in a positive moment,’ he added. ‘I can imagine there are some strong opinions out there. 

‘People have to trust me that he behaves very, very well. He was positive about coming back and was desperate for many months to come back. Now he has the chance and is eager to prove a point. Hopefully people give him a fair chance.’

Shortly after his goal White conceded a penalty as Uruguay rescued a last-gasp draw

It was previously claimed that White had taken exception to comments made by Holland, and maintained afterwards that he would not return to the group.   

Holland allegedly questioned White’s interest in football during the World Cup. The 28-year-old has previously said he doesn’t watch football and was never a fan when he was younger. 

Southgate’s assistant reportedly asked Kyle Walker a question related to Manchester City’s performances in the previous season, before posing the same question to White in regards to Arsenal.

He allegedly claimed he did not know the answer, leading Holland to claim that was down to his lack of interest in football.

The conversation is said to have happened in front of other members of the squad. White was particularly upset by the public nature of the conversation, rather than by Holland’s specific comment.

White was so steadfast in his conviction that he would not end his exile that he organised for his 2023 wedding to model Milly Adams to take place during an international break – long before the squad was even announced.

In March 2024 Southgate revealed that former Arsenal sporting director Edu had called him and FA technical John McDermott and revealed that White ‘did not want to be considered for England squads at this time’. This ruled White out of an international return ahead of Euro 2024, Southgate’s last tournament in charge.

His decision to refuse to play under Southgate led to heavy criticism. Indeed, former England captain Stuart Pearce was particularly scathing in his assessment, claiming that if players let you down once, ‘they will always let you down’.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, however, defended his player, saying he was ‘brave’ to remove himself from contention after ‘struggling’ with the national side. He also strongly disputed that the player did not care about representing his country.

‘It certainly wasn’t about that,’ Arteta said. ‘It was about being the opposite, just facing the situation and saying: “I cannot handle it now, and I am not the best person to represent the country the way I feel right now.” For me, it was completely the opposite. I think not a lot of people would do it.

White was so sure about his exile that he organised his 2023 wedding to model Milly Adams on an international break long before the squad was even announced

White (pictured during the 2022 World Cup) won his previous cap on 29 March, 2022

‘What a lot of people would do is hide in that context, in that environment, and let time go and nobody talks about it. What he did in my opinion was very brave. Not a lot of people would have done it.’

Tuchel, who officially replaced Southgate last January, said before he was appointed that he would reach out to White with the view of returning him to the fold.

White himself confirmed last May that he had made himself available to Tuchel, saying: ‘I’m definitely available. I spoke to him a few times.

‘He’s such a nice, nice man – very honest. I haven’t been back for too long. So it’s just about playing now and hopefully making my way back in.’