White insists claim he dislikes football is 'obviously not true'
Ben White has rejected the idea that he dislikes football, insisting his well known habit of avoiding matches in his spare time has been misunderstood for years.
The Arsenal defender has long faced questions over his decision not to watch football outside of his own matches, a trait that was reportedly linked to his exit from England's 2022 World Cup camp in Qatar. Speaking via ESPN, White addressed the subject directly.
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βTo be fair, I don't. I don't know if I actually said I don't like it because people say I don't like football, which is obviously not true,β he said. βIt's because I don't watch it, which I think is quite normal for someone who does a job and then doesn't go home and then continue watching that job. But I think it's my way of release from the game because it's so intense, obviously.β
Still facing scrutiny years later
White's comments come years after the incident that first brought the subject into focus, when he left England's camp in Qatar following a reported disagreement with a coach that was said to have involved a joke about his habit of not watching football at home. Some England supporters have continued to bring up the episode since, despite White's efforts to move past it.
The 28 year old has made clear that switching off from football once he leaves the training ground or the pitch is simply part of how he manages the demands of professional sport, rather than any sign of a lack of passion for the game itself.
Still in the picture for club and country
Despite the ongoing criticism from certain quarters, White has continued to perform at a high level for Arsenal and has remained in contention for England selection, with manager Thomas Tuchel having shown confidence in his qualities. White has made clear he wants to keep representing his country moving forward, regardless of the noise surrounding his 2022 departure.
His stance on watching football in his downtime does not appear to have affected his standing at either level, and he has continued to be a regular feature in Arsenal's defence. The explanation he has now given should go some way to clarifying a narrative that has followed him since Qatar, even if it is unlikely to end the debate among some supporters entirely.
White remains focused on his club responsibilities as Arsenal continue their season, with his international future set to depend on form and selection under Tuchel rather than past off field controversies.
