Tuchel Voices Disappointment Over Wembley Crowd's Reaction to Ben White
England manager Thomas Tuchel has labeled the Wembley crowd's behavior as disappointing after defender Ben White was booed during his international return in a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. The match, which saw White score a goal but also concede a late penalty, was marred by mixed reactions from supporters and contentious refereeing decisions.
Mixed Reception for White's Comeback
Ben White, making his first appearance for England since an early exit from the 2022 World Cup, entered the game in the 69th minute to a chorus of jeers from some sections of the crowd. Despite this, he managed to put England ahead with a goal, only to later foul Federico Viñas in stoppage time, leading to a penalty scored by Fede Valverde that secured Uruguay's equalizer.
Tuchel addressed the situation post-match, stating, "I heard that he was booed. It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I'm disappointed about because we protect our players." He emphasized White's positive contributions in camp and called for fans to move past the incident, highlighting that similar reactions have occurred with other players in the past.
Refereeing Controversy Mars the Match
The game was further complicated by a series of controversial calls from German referee Sven Jablonski. Tuchel expressed outrage over two key incidents:
- Ronald Araújo escaped a red card for a tackle on Phil Foden that went unchecked by VAR.
- Noni Madueke suffered an injury in the first half, leaving the stadium in a leg brace, with no VAR review on the incident.
Tuchel criticized the inconsistency, noting, "I was surprised VAR was in place because I thought it was not working after the tackle on Phil Foden was not even checked, the tackle on Noni was not even checked. Then suddenly this one was checked." He described the penalty awarded against White as "very soft," arguing that the contact was minimal and the striker's intent was obvious.
Injury Concerns and Squad Implications
Noni Madueke's injury adds to Arsenal's woes, following Eberechi Eze's calf issue, potentially impacting their title challenge. Additionally, confusion arose when Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte appeared to receive two yellow cards without being sent off; it was later clarified that the first booking was actually for José María Giménez.
England, fielding a makeshift side due to absences, struggled against a stubborn Uruguayan defense. Several players failed to make a strong case for inclusion in the upcoming World Cup squad, though Tuchel praised the team's effort overall. He remains focused on supporting White and moving forward from the contentious match.
