England fans, stop booing Ben White – it's ridiculous

Opinion piece arguing England fans should stop booing Arsenal defender Ben White, who withdrew from the squad in 2022 but has since returned with manager Thomas Tuchel's backing.

Ben White continues to face jeers from sections of England's support at Wembley, a reaction stemming from his 2022 withdrawal from the squad during a dispute with the previous regime. The Arsenal defender was called from the bench during England's match against Croatia, prompting audible booing from some fans.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has made clear his desire to move past the incident, and the article argues White deserves the same forgiveness. Captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jordan Henderson have both expressed confidence in White's commitment to England.

The piece contends that given England's defensive injury problems—with Tino Livramento, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold all unreliable—White's performances for the Premier League's best team make him a valuable option.

The columnist warns that continued booing risks repeating the toxic atmosphere that surrounded previous England squads. With Euro 2028 approaching and home advantage at Wembley and other venues, losing a versatile defender of White's quality through fan pressure would be self-defeating.