Villarreal player Thomas Partey has been blocked from entering Canada for Ghana's World Cup match against Panama, reportedly due to ongoing legal issues in England.
The 33-year-old midfielder is facing six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in England. These accusations surfaced last summer around the time his Arsenal contract was expiring. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to stand trial in London next year, with additional charges added this year.
According to The Athletic, Partey was denied a visa to enter Canada, where Ghana is set to play Panama in Toronto. A spokesperson for the Ghana Football Association confirmed the visa refusal but did not provide specific reasons. FIFA stated they are not responsible for immigration processes, noting that the host government makes the final decision on who is admitted.
Despite the setback in Canada, Partey is still able to travel to the United States, where Ghana has established its team base camp. The Black Stars have two more group stage matches scheduled in the USA: against England in Boston on June 23rd, and then against Croatia in Philadelphia.
This season has been challenging for Partey at Villarreal, struggling to secure a starting position and facing public criticism from manager Marcelino Garcia Toral. His future with the club remains uncertain, with an option to extend his contract for another year. Villarreal previously defended his signing, emphasizing the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
