Ghana's government has described Canada's decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa for the World Cup as "high-handed and extremely unfair," dispatching an official note of protest requesting a review of the ban that will see the midfielder miss his country's tournament opener against Panama on Wednesday.
The former Arsenal midfielder, 32, now at Villarreal, had his visa application refused because of pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022. Ghana's foreign ministry said the decision raised "fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality," reaffirming the "presumption of innocence." Canada's immigration department said each entry application is assessed individually, and hosting major events does not change immigration laws.
“Ghana condemns Canada's 'high-handed' visa denial for Thomas Partey as World Cup sees fan arrests and immigration rows.”
Partey remains in Boston with the Ghana squad and is eligible to play in their subsequent Group L matches against England and Croatia in the United States. A US Customs and Border Protection official said Partey was admitted after being issued a visa, as he has not been convicted.
The visa row is the latest immigration-related controversy to flare at the first World Cup co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico. The US earlier refused entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been due to officiate.
Elsewhere in Toronto, trouble erupted before the tournament's opening match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two supporters were arrested 50 minutes before kick-off after allegedly assaulting police officers during a disturbance in the stands. Toronto police confirmed two men from a Bosnian supporters' group were taken into custody at 2:10pm ET, with two officers sustaining minor injuries. Both fans have been charged with assaulting a police officer. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The matchday also saw activists staging a demonstration aimed at FIFA and Israel.
On a brighter note for the co-hosts, the United States delivered a statement performance, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with former England Under-21 international Folarin Balogun scoring twice, watched by a galaxy of Hollywood stars including David Beckham.