Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will line up against England in Boston on Tuesday, just days after being denied entry to Canada because of ongoing rape charges in the UK. The 33-year-old former Arsenal player is accused of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial next year.
Partey missed Ghana's World Cup opener against Panama last week after being refused entry to Canada. He had told Canadian officials he had never been arrested or charged with a crime, but his admission of the pending case led to his rejection. However, US customs and border protection (CBP) confirmed that, because he has not been convicted, Partey was issued a visa and admitted to the United States. The US said it was “aware of the pending court case” but that his lack of a conviction meant he could enter.
“Why Ghana's Thomas Partey can still play in the World Cup despite facing rape charges in the UK.”
The situation highlights a fundamental principle of criminal law: the presumption of innocence. Partey has not been found guilty of any offence, so he remains eligible to play for Ghana and to travel to countries that do not automatically bar individuals based on charges alone. This is why he can take part in World Cup matches in the US, where the tournament is being co-hosted, and in the UK, where he lived and played for Arsenal until his move to Villarreal.
For UK readers, Partey is a familiar figure. He spent four seasons at Arsenal after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2020, making over 100 appearances. The charges against him first emerged in 2022, and he has continued to play for club and country while awaiting trial. The case raises questions about how football bodies handle serious allegations, and whether players should be allowed to represent their countries while facing such charges.
Q: Is Thomas Partey allowed to play for Ghana while facing rape charges? Yes, he is. Partey has not been convicted of any crime, and he maintains his innocence. Football’s governing bodies, including FIFA and the Ghana Football Association, have not suspended him because the presumption of innocence applies until a verdict is reached.
Q: Why was he denied entry to Canada but allowed into the US? Each country sets its own immigration rules. Canada denied Partey after he disclosed the charges, likely because its laws allow refusal if an individual is believed to have committed a crime. The US admitted him because he has not been convicted, and CBP said it considered his visa application on that basis.
Q: When will Thomas Partey stand trial? His trial is scheduled to take place next year, likely in the UK. The exact date has not been confirmed. He is expected to plead not guilty to all charges.
What happens next: Partey will play against England in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday. He remains free to travel and compete while the legal process unfolds. His trial next year will determine his future, but for now, he continues his international career under the cloud of allegations.