Gareth Southgate refuses to comment on claims Ben White left England's World Cup squad after bust-up with his assistant Steve Holland and insists the Arsenal defender's privacy 'must be respected'

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Gareth Southgate has refused to comment on claims surrounding Ben White's absence from the England squad and insisted the defender must be 'respected'. 

White, 25, returned to the UK last week for what was said to be personal reasons - with the Football Association having remained tight-lipped on the exact reasoning.  However, reports emerged earlier this week alleging the reason was a bust up during training. 

The Daily Star claimed the Arsenal defender's departure was because of a row with Steve Holland - Southgate's longstanding No 2 - but the England boss has since denied the claim. 

Reports claimed Ben White's World Cup exit followed a major bust-up with Steve Holland (R)

Gareth Southgate has refused to comment on the absence of Arsenal defender Ben White

Southgate told talkSPORT: 'Well, not really. What I've been shown was alleged and there was another word that was used.

'I think by commenting on the story I could be giving it any form of credibility, really. We explained why Ben left the camp and I think it's important that is respected, really.'

According to the newspaper, Holland was unimpressed by White's lack of preparedness in a pre-USA team meeting, with the former Leeds and Brighton man reportedly lacking knowledge of his own personal stats. 

It was also reported that White showed a poor knowledge of England's opponents, whom they drew 0-0 with in their second group game.

White returned home from England training for 'personal reasons', the FA initially claimed

Holland was deep in conversation with Southgate as England's players trained in Qatar

White was also said to have been uncomfortable at England's base and struggled to gel with his team-mates. The decision for him to be released home was mutually agreed, it was reported. 

'We ask that the player's privacy is respected at this moment in time,' the FA statement said.

His club then tweeted: 'We're all with you, Ben.' Several Arsenal players have since posted messages of support to the 25-year-old on social media.

Southgate did not replace White - whose fiancee, Milly Adams, attended the draw with the USA - as he already has defensive cover for first choice pairing Harry Maguire and John Stones with Conor Coady and Eric Dier.

Arsenal posted a Tweet in support of White when his departure from the England camp was announced

White's fiancee Milly Adams (pictured) attended the group stage 0-0 draw against USA

White has also not travelled on the Gunners' mid-World Cup warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

The defender had started all 14 Premier League games before the World Cup break, helping his side to the top of the table and earning him a call-up to Southgate's 26-man squad for Qatar.

White has also played right-back for Arsenal this season but Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold can fill that position for England.

White did not feature in the first two Group B matches and also missed the win against Wales

Holland, 52, was assistant manager at Chelsea before joining the England set-up, first with the under-21s, and then moving up to the senior side. 

With England, he has always worked next to Southgate and was a member of the coaching team when the Three Lions reached last year's Euro 2020 final.

Just a day out from their quarter-final clash with France on Saturday, Holland was pictured next to head coach Gareth Southgate as they put the team through their final paces. 

England head into the clash with France the competition's top scorers so far and having only conceded twice, in their opening game with Iran.