Ben White stocks up on nicotine pouches and sips wine in Ibiza

• White has been enjoying a holiday in Ibiza with wife Milly and his parents
• The Arsenal star refuses to be called for England who are playing in Germany
• LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Were England good in their opener or is the criticism fair?

Ben White has been pictured holding nicotine pouches and two cigars as he enjoys a holiday with family, while his former England team-mates are away in Germany for Euro 2024.  

The Arsenal defender would likely have been part of the final squad if he was available, but Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate revealed in March that the 26-year-old has chosen to make himself unavailable for selection. 

White is not watching the Euros from home, and has instead jetted off to Ibiza with his wife Milly and his parents. 

Pictures have now shown White stocking up on Pablo nicotine pouches.

Nicotine pouches are often confused with Snus which is currently banned from being sold in the United Kingdom with users often sourcing it from abroad. 

Snus is a moist, tobacco-based nicotine product that users place between their upper lip and gumline. 

Nicotine patches, which is what White was seen holding, are legally sold in the UK and do not contain tobacco. 

White, who was not pictured using the product, was also seen holding two cigars, as he walked through the streets of Ibiza with his family. 

Other pictures also showed him in conversation with his family, as he sipped on white wine on the Spanish island. 

A study commissioned by the Professional Footballers’ Association in May revealed that one in five top-level players were using snus, nicotine pouches or both.

The research project took data from 628 male players in the Premier League and English Football League as well as 51 players from the Women’s Super League, with the results from the ‘first-of-its kind’ study revealing a large proportion of players were using the substance.

There are concerns that the use of both substances has been linked to a variety of health issues, with the report claiming that users can develop nicotine dependency, ‘an increased risk of oesophagus and pancreatic cancer compared to non-smokers’, as well as oral health issues and cardiovascular problems.   

Some professional players have also been pictured with nicotine pouches in the past, including Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. He was seen back in 2016 walking towards England training in Chantilly, France carrying a tub of what appeared to be chewing tobacco and a Red Bull.

Vardy admitted to taking snus in his autobiography to help him relax.  

White’s holiday to Ibiza comes as his England team-mates played out a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday.

Jude Bellingham scored the only goal in a game where the Three Lions produced an underwhelming performance, with Serbia mounting pressure during a nervy second half for Southgate’s squad. 

White though is enjoying some off-time before he returns to pre-season training with Arsenal in a few week’s time. 

His wife, Milly, has been sharing snaps on her social media accounts of the two away together on holiday since the end of the domestic season. 

In a photo shared on Milly’s Instagram, captioned: ‘Life’ with a blue heart emoji, White can be seen enjoying a cold drink, wearing a black and blue shirt as he takes in his surroundings.

The defender is sat at a table with an umbrella, with Milly resting her legs on her other half as she takes the snap.

The photo was shared on the same day that England’s final squad was confirmed ahead of the Euros. 

Asked if he spoke to White ahead of picking his squad, Southgate replied: ‘No. As far as I am aware he’s not available to us.’

In March, Southgate said Arsenal sporting director Edu had informed him White – capped four times by his country – did not want to play for the Three Lions at the present time. 

England midfielder Declan Rice, meanwhile, said in March that he would speak to White upon his return to Arsenal, hopeful that his club team-mate would eventually agree to end his exile.

He said: ‘The only thing I can say is it’s Ben’s life. It’s Ben’s decision. We can’t argue with him, with what he wants to do. Of course, there’s always going to be people writing stuff, having their opinions on what on what they think.

‘But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what he thinks and at this moment in time, he obviously doesn’t want to play for England.’

Reports have suggested that the rift was sparked by Steve Holland questioning White’s interest in football while they were out in Qatar.

Southgate’s assistant reportedly asked Kyle Walker a question related to Manchester City’s performances in the previous season, before posing the same question to White regarding Arsenal.

White allegedly said he did not know the answer, leading Holland to claim that was down to his lack of interest in football.

The conversation is said to have happened in front of other members of the squad.