Ben White says he has no complaints at boos from England fans over self-imposed exile

White says he accepts boos from England fans over his 2022 World Cup exit, crediting Tuchel's outreach for his return to the squad.

Ben White has responded to being jeered by England supporters during his return to international football in the Uruguay friendly last March, saying he has no complaints about the reception. The Arsenal defender left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar early for personal reasons and made himself unavailable under Gareth Southgate, creating friction with some fans.

White told BBC 5 Live that he understands the reaction but believes people don't know the full story, which he has chosen not to share publicly. "Everyone can do whatever they want," he said. "It's fine with me." He reflected on his emotional return, scoring against Uruguay before giving away a late penalty for the equaliser.

The 29-year-old credited Thomas Tuchel's personal outreach for bringing him back into the fold, saying the manager's effort to reach out was significant. White has been in fine form for Arsenal this season and hopes to earn a place at Euro 2028, having missed last summer's World Cup through injury.