- Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer label Ben White ’embarrassing’
- This comes after a viral clip showed the defender holding his neck
- Ally McCoist’s comments before the Old Firm were reckless and irresponsible, says CHRIS SUTTON – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have hit out at Arsenal defender Ben White after a viral clip from the Gunners’ match against Brighton.
White, who recently turned down the chance to play for England, fell to the ground after a light push from Pervis Estupinan.
Footage from social media showed the 26-year-old giving Estupinian a shove as he jogged past.
When the Ecuador left-back retaliated with a push, White collapsed to the turf and held him by the throat.
Speaking about the Rest is football podcast, former England star Lineker asked: ‘Should we mention the Ben White incident?’
Ben White went down and held his neck after a light push from Pervis Estupinan
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer spoke about White on The Rest Is Football podcast
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Shearer responded, “Yes, we should do that! What a joke.’
This led to Lineker continuing to admit that he did not understand White’s response, labeling it as ’embarrassing’.
“What I don’t understand is that I don’t like acting, and never have liked it,” he continued.
‘I don’t get it and I don’t understand why players do it, but especially now that you have so many cameras on the ground and yet you have a VAR looking back on incidents.
‘Don’t you think to yourself, that’s a bit embarrassing to do that?
‘And Ben White isn’t the only one by the way, a lot of players do it, but I just don’t know why you would do that to yourself. Just look at the prat.”
This led to Shearer doubling down on the comments, saying: “Absolutely, it was embarrassing, very embarrassing.”
Last month, the England international informed those responsible for the selection process that he does not want to play for his country.
England boss Gareth Southgate said he does not know why White does not want to be included and confirmed Arsenal had been informed of his decision to make the news public.
White’s international future is now in serious doubt, although Southgate has been at pains to say the door is not closed on the versatile defender.
It remains to be seen whether he will represent his national team again in the future.