Reports have emerged that Ben White's self-imposed exile from the England squad was due to a rift with assistant coach Steve Holland.
The Arsenal defender left the England camp early during the 2022 World Cup, but in-depth details regarding why he departed were not revealed.
A statement from the Football Association said that White was to leave the camp due to "personal reasons" just after England's 3-0 group stage win over Wales, and would not return for the rest of the tournament.
White has not been selected for England duty since, despite being part of the Premier League's strongest defence this season at Arsenal.
When naming his squad for March's internationals, manager Gareth Southgate went on record to say that White has asked not to be considered for selection for the foreseeable future.
Details have now reportedly emerged as to why, as The Telegraph claim that a falling out occurred with Southgate's assistant Holland while the squad were in Qatar for the World Cup.
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It is stated that during a conversation between Holland and Kyle Walker, the assistant posed a question to the Manchester City defender about their performances that season.
Holland then asked a similar question to White about Arsenal, to which the player did not know the answer.
The assistant then jibed in front of other members of the squad that his inability to answer was due to his lack of interest in football.
White has gone on record in the past and stated that he does not follow football closely in his personal life, and sees the sport more as a career rather than a hobby.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2021, White revealed: "I never watched football when I was younger, still don't now.
"I just loved the game, I was always playing it, never watching it. I'm quite busy, I'm always doing something. I just wouldn't just sit down and watch a game."
The report states that the fact Holland joked about it in front of other members of the squad is why White made the decision to leave the camp, more than the actual comment itself.
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Southgate has denied that a falling out between Holland and White is behind why the player wishes to be omitted from the squad, but also stated he did not try to convince the player to join up with the team, believing that he would be unlikely to change his mind.
"I think it would be a similar conversation to the last one I had with him [after Qatar], and I could sense a reticence there which I felt I should back away from." Southgate stated.
"People can talk about me, and I have to accept that things get said that are false about me, but I'm not prepared for that to happen for a key member of my coaching team because that is not the reason Ben is unavailable for selection."
The FA, Arsenal and White's representatives have all refused to comment on the matter, casting further doubt over the entire situation.
England play the first of two friendlies this month against Brazil on Saturday evening at Wembley, before facing Belgium next week.
Andrew Delaney
