Jim White has told BBC Radio 5 live that he is aware of an England player calling his agent in France this past summer to help him get out of Euro 2016.
As seen in the video below, White doesn’t reveal a name or go into too much detail, but the rest of panel on the show were shocked over the revelation.
"He phoned his agent to try and get out of it"
Jim White says one England player did not want to be at #Euro2016
https://t.co/OKj24ABBRg— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) November 10, 2016
England have underperformed at the major tournaments for many years now and their elimination at Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland was certainly a kick in the teeth for them and a huge embarrassment.
However, it’s difficult to really believe that any of the players selected by then manager Roy Hodgson would have wanted to leave the camp on the cusp of the tournament getting underway.
That is a view shared by many of those who commented on the video, with White receiving a negative response for putting a story out there without backing it up with facts or even naming the player.
In all fairness, it does seem pretty random and is good for shock value, but without knowing anything further, it could all be a much of a muchness and is unfair on the players that did want to be there and gave it their all to make it a successful summer.
@pinehurst5 @5liveSport @bbc5live Easy to make these claims, if they can back it up then name the player.
— Neil Hayden (@neilhayden73) November 10, 2016
@5liveSport @bbc5live
Cowardly thing to say if you're not going to name the player.
Tars them all with the same brush.— FairerPlay (@FairerPlay) November 10, 2016
@5liveSport @bbc5live name the player or its unsubstantiated nonsense.
— Kev McAlpine (@Kev_McAlpine) November 10, 2016
@5liveSport @bbc5live stop filling air time and name the player… poor claim ???
— David Batty (@davechippy25) November 10, 2016