Details about the original exchange between Holland and White that led to the divide suggest that the player’s issue was the public nature of it, occurring as it did in front of a group of his peers. At the heart of the problem appears to be a question of the respect accorded to the player. White was not in the first-choice XI in that tournament, although that is not understood to have been the key reason for the unhappiness on his part.
Southgate announced last week that the Arsenal defender had made himself unavailable for selection for England – adding that he did not know why that was the case. Southgate also went on to say that it was unrelated to White’s relationship with Holland, his long-term England assistant. Speaking on the issue on Thursday, Southgate said: “Also, I should say there’s never any issue with Steve Holland [and White], because that has sort of been mentioned in articles and I don’t like that.”
The issue has become significant enough that the rift not only saw White return from Qatar just after the final group-stage game against Wales, but has also meant he has chosen not to play subsequently. Southgate said that there was a “reticence” on the part of the player to resume international duty when he spoke to him in the months after Qatar.
How many attempts Southgate has made to recall White since the World Cup is not clear. The decision about the latest squad, with games against Brazil and Belgium over the next six days, was conveyed by Arsenal sporting director Edu to his FA counterpart John McDermott.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
