Thomas Tuchel ‘disappointed’ in England fans’ booing Ben White

LONDON — Thomas Tuchel has said he was “disappointed” by England fans booing Ben White during Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay but insisted the Arsenal defender must “take it on the chin.”

White made his first appearance in four years as a 69th-minute substitution but was jeered by a section of the 80,581 crowd.

– White booed in return — but he did more than flat England teammates
– England vs. Uruguay as it happened: White scores but Uruguay level late on

The 28-year-old went on to score his first international goal to put England ahead but was booed again before conceding a stoppage-time penalty for a foul on Federico Viñas which Federico Valverde converted.

White left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar early for what the Football Association described at the time as “personal reasons” but that multiple outlets including ESPN reported was in fact a disagreement with then-boss Gareth Southgate’s coaching staff.

Southgate later revealed that White had declined a subsequent call-up and he was not selected again until Tuchel turned to the right-back after Jarell Quansah pulled out of his latest squad through injury.

“I [was told] that he was booed,” said Tuchel. “I didn’t hear it on the field because I was involved in the changes and instructions.

“It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I am disappointed about because of course protect our players.

“He was excellent in camp. He deserved to come on. He deserved also to start and got us almost the winner. But I also understood that it happened to other players before here.

“He needs to take it on the chin. We will always protect him and hopefully we can put it behind [us] because he is ready to write some new chapters. We are ready to give him the chance so hopefully everyone can move on and accept it.”

Noni Madueke and Phil Foden both left the game prematurely due to injuries. Madueke was seen leaving Wembley wearing a knee brace while Foden limped off following a bad tackle by Ronald Araújo which went unpunished by German referee Sven Jablonski.

Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte also appeared to collect two bookings but avoided seeing red, though it was later confirmed the first of those yellow cards had in fact gone to defender José María Giménez.

“I think it was not a good performance [from the referee] at all throughout the match,” said Tuchel.

“And I cannot understand that the tackle like this [on Foden] is not even checked. I think the penalty in the end was very, very soft and then there were like debates that that a player got two yellow cards in the match and not being sent off. OK, bad day at the office.”