Partey’s availability for the World Cup match
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has declared his readiness to participate in the upcoming World Cup match against England in Boston. This follows his absence from Ghana‘s opening game against Panama, which was played in Toronto.
Partey, a former Arsenal player, was denied entry into Canada for the initial match due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. He is facing charges related to allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022, to which he has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for next year.
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that while they are aware of the pending court case, Partey has not been convicted of a crime and was granted a visa to enter the US. This decision allows him to join his teammates for the fixture against England.
Speaking about the situation, Partey stated, “It’s part of football. Things happen outside football that you cannot control. For me now, I feel OK and ready to play.”
Team motivation and pre-match protocols
Ghana‘s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, expressed confidence in his team’s motivation for the match. He noted that playing against prominent national teams like England, France, or Germany naturally inspires players. “Everybody is fully switched on and everybody wants to perform well,” Queiroz added.
The match against England will involve the customary pre-match handshake ceremony. The Football Association has indicated that England‘s players will decide whether to participate in the handshake ritual with Partey. Among the England squad are two of Partey‘s former clubmates, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
While some might find a handshake uncomfortable given the circumstances, many players reportedly view the pre-match handshake as a formality. The FA has not taken an official stance on the matter, with legal experts suggesting it would be unwise to do so as it could be seen as prejudicial to Partey‘s upcoming trial.
Controversy surrounding visa denial and other cases
Partey‘s initial denial of entry into Canada stemmed from his visa application, where he reportedly answered “No” to questions regarding previous criminal offenses, arrests, or charges. This information came to light when the Ghana Football Association challenged the visa denial in court.
The court ruling highlighted that Partey‘s response in the application was inconsistent with his ongoing high-profile legal situation. This incident led to a political discussion in Ghana, with some politicians and academics criticizing the Ghana Football Association for the handling of the visa application.
Fiifi Boafo, a politician, commented on the situation, suggesting that inaccurate information had been provided regarding Partey‘s entry denial. Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato from the University of Ghana described the situation as an “amateur hour” at the GFA, calling for accountability.
The Ghana Football Association defended its role, stating it acted diligently and professionally in supporting the player and the national team, and that its involvement had been “mischaracterised.” They emphasized their duty to facilitate visa applications for accredited delegation members.
Partey is not the only player at the World Cup facing legal issues. Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano was arrested in 2024 for alleged gang-rape, though charges were later dropped after he reportedly apologized and made a payment to the complainant. Additionally, Morocco‘s Achraf Hakimi is set to face trial in France for an alleged rape in 2023, which he denies. A trial date for Hakimi has not yet been announced.
Despite the controversy, Ghana secured a 1-0 victory against Panama in their opening match, with a 95th-minute goal from Caleb Yirenkyi.
The diplomatic channels were used in Partey‘s case, with Ghana‘s ministry of foreign affairs condemning Canada’s decision to refuse the temporary residence application, citing reliance on unproven charges. However, the court’s findings revealed the discrepancy in Partey‘s visa application, which ultimately led to the failure of his appeal.
The Ghana Football Association maintained that the court did not find any fault, negligence, misconduct, or incompetence on their part. They remain satisfied with their actions in support of the player and the national team.
While his teammates traveled to Boston for the match against England, Partey was initially left at the team’s training base at Bryant University in Rhode Island before being granted entry to the US.
The upcoming match between Ghana and England is scheduled for Tuesday in Boston.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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