Rice defends booed Ben White: 'If people knew him, they'd understand'

Declan Rice has urged England fans to stop booing Ben White, insisting the Arsenal defender’s character and commitment to the national team are being misjudged by those who have not forgiven him for leaving the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.

White was jeered by the Wembley crowd when he came on as a substitute against Croatia following his reintegration under head coach Thomas Tuchel. The defender spoke last week about his passion for representing England but declined to elaborate on the reasons behind his departure from Qatar nearly three years ago.

Rice, speaking in defence of his club and international teammate, was clear that the episode belongs firmly in the past. “Ben has moved on from what’s happened in the past, he’s totally focused on playing for England,” the midfielder said. “When he’s been fit and available he’s constantly put himself forward to play for England. He loves being here — it’s not like he doesn’t like being here, he loves playing for England, loves being around the lads.”

Rice added that White’s temperament is actually an asset in dealing with the hostile reception. “If people knew and understood Ben White as a character, he’s not fazed by anything — he goes with the flow and he just wants to play football and for England. Coming on and playing for England and being booed is not easy, but the way his character is it really helps him.”

The West Ham academy graduate, now 27, was emphatic that the Qatar incident has no presence in the England dressing room. “It’s so long ago now, it’s nearly five years and it doesn’t need to keep getting brought up. No-one talks about it around the dinner table, no-one speaks about it in the pool — we just play football and do what we need to do.”

Rice also addressed the competition for his own place in both the England and Arsenal midfields, welcoming the challenge posed by Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who replaced him in the national team last month. “The way he’s been playing for Bournemouth the last two or three seasons has been remarkable,” Rice said. “I totally understand playing for England comes with competition.”

He drew a direct parallel with the crowded midfield options at Arsenal, where he competes daily alongside Bruno Guimarães, Martín Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, and Martin Ødegaard. “You’re competing with six midfielders at your club every day, so for me there’s nothing different — throughout my whole career there’s been competition. It’s normal.”