Gareth Southgate has refused to go into any detail on why Ben White left England’s World Cup squad, not elaborating on reports that it was due to a bust up with coach Steve Holland.
The Football Association announced early last week that White would leave the squad, citing ‘personal reasons’ and will not return to the camp in Qatar.
The 25-year-old did not play in any of England’s three group stage games as they booked their place in the knockout stage with wins over Iran and Wales and a draw with USA before beating Senegal in the last 16.
According to the Daily Star, White became unhappy in the England camp and struggled to mix with his fellow international team-mates before he fell out with Gareth Southgate’s assistant Holland in front of the rest of the squad.
Holland and White allegedly had a heated exchange when the defender turned up to a team meeting prior to the 0-0 draw with the USA not knowing some key information over his own personal stats with the assistant manager also angry over the player’s lack of knowledge of their American opposition.
Asked by talkSPORT if he could elaborate on the issue, Southgate said: ‘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.’
England also lost Raheem Sterling for the game with Senegal as he flew home following a robbery at his house, but the Chelsea forward has since returned to Qatar and is available for the quarter-final against France on Saturday.
Sterling is very unlikely to go straight back into the starting XI after his ordeal, and after resounding 3-0 wins over Wales and Senegal, with the former Manchester City and Liverpool man starting neither game.
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