Rape charge midfielder Thomas Partey says ‘things that happen outside football you cannot control’ and that he is ‘ready to play’ against England.
In a perhaps surprise move, the 33-year-old chose to face the media at Ghana’s training base in New England ahead of Tuesday night’s match and amid an ongoing furore.
Partey was banned from entering Canada and so missed his country’s first game against Panama after details of charges of rape and sexual assault against him were not declared on his visa application.
The former Arsenal midfielder was not asked by international media about the allegations, which he is due to face at trial in London next year. However, he was quizzed on whether he was ‘eager’ to face England having not played in Ghana’s World Cup opener.
‘I think for me now it’s part of football,’ Partey said. ‘Things happen outside football that you cannot control but for me now I feel OK and I am ready to play.’
When asked if he was looking forward to seeing former team-mates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka again – and whether he had kept in touch with the pair – he did not answer the latter part of the question.
Thomas Partey, who is accused of rape, said ‘things happen outside of football you cannot control’ after missing Ghana’s opening game of the World Cup
The former Arsenal man said he is ‘[really happy’ to see Bukayo Saka (second left) and Declan Rice (centre) again
‘I’m really happy to see them again,’ he said. ‘I hope they are going to bring their best and try to give ourselves also the opportunity to play against the best and try to compete and enjoy the game.’
Vice-captain Partey, whose appeal against his Canada ban was turned down the day before the match in Toronto, which Ghana won 1-0, added that he was looking forward to a midfield battle with Rice.
‘I know it’s not going to be easy,’ he said. ‘(They have) very good players and I am happy to play against them.’
It remains to be seen whether England’s players will shake Partey’s hand as part of the pre-match protocol. As previously reported, the FA will not speak to its players about the gesture, preferring to concentrate solely on football.
Partey denies seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault. A start date of June 7 next year has been pencilled in at Southwark Crown Court.
Despite first being arrested in July 2022, Partey continued to represent Arsenal until his contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. He was charged a week after his deal ended, and is now with Villarreal, in Spain.
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