Former England winger Chris Waddle has called for Arsenal defender Ben White to face a two-year ban from international duty, criticizing the player’s previous withdrawal from the national team and his recent desire to return.
‘You Can’t Pick and Choose’: Chris Waddle Slams Ben White Over England Return
White, who has earned four caps for England, left the squad during the 2022 World Cup citing personal reasons, amid reports of a disagreement with then-assistant manager Steve Holland.
Subsequently, he made himself unavailable for selection under former manager Gareth Southgate.
With Thomas Tuchel’s recent appointment as England manager, White has expressed his willingness to return to international play.
Tuchel acknowledged White’s interest but emphasized the need for the defender to regain full fitness following a knee injury.
He stated, “He’d love to be back in the squad. I just think it’s a bit too early now given the seriousness of the injury that he had.”
Waddle, however, believes that White should not be allowed to dictate his involvement with the national team.
He argued that players should always be available for selection and suggested that White should face a ban equal to the duration of his self-imposed absence.
Waddle remarked, “For the time he didn’t play, he didn’t want to play, I would say, ‘Well, we’ll give you the same ban’.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended White’s previous decision to step away from international duty, praising his bravery in acknowledging he wasn’t in the right state to represent England at that time.
Arteta explained that White’s choice was about facing his situation and not about letting his country down.
As England prepares for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, Tuchel has indicated that White’s potential return to the squad will depend on his recovery and match fitness.
The situation highlights the ongoing debate about player autonomy and commitment to national representation in professional football.
