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Arsenal star told he should be banned for life from playing for England by Tottenham legend
Chris Waddle doesn’t want Ben White to play for England again (Picture: Getty)

Ben White’s plea to be forgiven for snubbing England has fallen on the deaf ears of Chris Waddle who believes the Arsenal star should never play for the Three Lions again.

The former Brighton defender believes England fans would not boo him if they knew the full story of his exit from England’s 2022 World Cup squad.

But the 29-year-old insists he will not ‘throw anyone under the bus’ by talking about it.

White walked out of the camp in Qatar due to ‘personal reasons’, reported to be an alleged fallout with assistant manager Steve Holland, and subsequently made himself unavailable for the rest of Sir Gareth Southgate’s time in charge.

He returned to Thomas Tuchel’s squad in March, but was jeered by England supporters before being ruled out of this summer’s World Cup through injury.

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The 29-year-old says he stands by his decision of four years ago, but is looking forward to his ‘story continuing’.

‘It’s something that I’ve not spoken about, and I won’t go into detail about it,’ White told talkSPORT. ‘Yes, it’s a decision that I don’t want to be talking about anyone negatively or throwing anyone under the bus.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Ben White of England arrives at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Ben White is back in the England squad (Picture: Getty)

‘It was obviously not an ideal situation, and (a decision) that I probably still would make.

‘There’s loads of things that happened and communication wasn’t great. It’s something that I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus. I think there’s a lot of people who tried to do that to me. So it’s something that I wouldn’t want to do to someone else.’

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He added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I don’t think I would (change decision).

‘Obviously, I was a bit younger. I’m a bit older now. I think, as a person, I’m quite real, and I think I made the decision that I would probably continue to make.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Ben White of England reacts during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Ben White was booed by some England fans after making his first Three Lions appearance in four years (Getty)

‘It’s one that I’m not happy about, but obviously it happened, it’s time to move on.

‘It’s such a privilege to ever get close to playing for your country, something I probably didn’t even dream of because I didn’t think it would be anywhere near my reality.

‘There’s been a few bumps, I’m obviously here now, and looking forward to this story continuing.’

The basis of White’s alleged falling out with Holland is thought to be over an interview where the Arsenal defender admitted to not watching football on television.

Should Ben White be allowed to play for England?

He said: ‘To be fair, I don’t. I don’t know if I actually said I don’t like it because people say I don’t like football, which is obviously not true.

‘It’s because I don’t watch it, which I think is quite normal for someone who does a job and then doesn’t go home and then continue watching that job.

‘But I think it’s my way of release from the game because it’s so intense, obviously.’

White’s return to the fold under Tuchel was eventful as he was booed in a friendly against Uruguay, where he scored and then gave away a penalty.

‘I think before the game, I was thinking, just don’t…not stand out, but just nice and easy, you know,’ he added.

Editorial use only. All images are copyright Every Second Media Limited. No images may be reproduced without prior permission. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tiego Grenho/Every Second Media/Shutterstock (17263020l) Thomas Tuchel gestures during the media conference at Wembley Stadium, London, England on 6 November 2026. Credit: Tiego Grenho/Every Second Media Thomas Tuchel Media Conference, Wembley Stadium, London, England - 06 Nov 2026
Thomas Tuchel believes Ben White’s previous decision to withdraw from England’s squad should be a ‘closed book’ (Shutterstock)

‘Then I came on and obviously get booed. Then I score. Then I give away a pen. So it was obviously full of emotions that night, and it was a good night.

‘Everyone can do whatever they want. You know, it’s fine with me. Whatever they want to do, and I think just think about maybe not knowing the full story. And if they did, maybe they wouldn’t.’

White’s candid explanation for his actions and desire to rebuild his reputation holds no water with Waddle who was capped 62 times by England.

‘Listen, Ben White shouldn’t be in the England squad, that’s my opinion,’ the former Tottenham winger told iGaming.com.

‘He refused to represent his country. I’m surprised Thomas brought him back in, and I don’t get why he has.

‘There might be a shortage of full-backs, but when somebody turns down playing for their country, like Ben White did, to me that’s a lifetime ban. I’d say, ‘Forget it mate, on my watch you’re not getting back in’.

‘He’s not playing every game at Arsenal, so he’s a surprise inclusion to me. I think the England fans will show him what they think of what he did if he plays, because you don’t turn your country down and say, ‘I’m not interested in international football.’ I There are not many many players who would ever do that, and there are even fewer who have been able to resurrect an international career after doing so.

England squad for Croatia and Spain matches

DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 4: Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Betis Balompie at BVB Stadion Dortmund on November 4, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
Jobe Bellingham has made England’s senior squad for the first time (Getty)

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Ben White (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Josh King (Fulham), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Attackers: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea)

‘Once you turn your country down, there should be an asterisk next to your name that means you will never get the opportunity to put on that England shirt again. End of story.

‘It’s all right coming out and saying, ‘Well, that was that time and this is now,’ but he knew what he was doing. If he didn’t want to play then, why does he want to play now? As I say, he’s not the permanent right-back at Arsenal.

‘Okay, he’s got that versatility where he can play centre-half as well. From Tuchel’s POV, I think it’s a very, very strange call-up for him to make and one that he probably doesn’t need to make.’

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