Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will not take part in Ghana’s first game of the World Cup.
The former Arsenal midfielder has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ghana are playing Panama in their first game of the tournament on Wednesday 17 June. The team and staff members are set to travel from their base on Rhode Island early next week, but Partey was denied a visa.
Fifa confirmed in a statement: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp … to Canada for their first match against Panama … as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.
“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Canada’s government website suggests visitors may be denied entry to the country if they have “committed or been convicted of a crime”, although Partey has not been convicted of any crime.
In a statement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: “Canada is proud to be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians. Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws.
“Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.”
Partey, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was granted a US visa before the tournament and will be eligible to play against England in Boston on 23 June, as well as Ghana’s final group game against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.
The allegations against Partey relate to four different women. The trial was set for November but Judge Tony Baumgartner, the Recorder of Westminster, warned Partey and lawyers in the case that the trial could now be delayed until January next year.
The Ghanaian midfielder, who previously lived in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45m, before he left the club in June last year.
Partey is on bail during the legal proceedings, with a condition that he does not contact alleged victims and that he must tell the court if he plans on travelling abroad.
