Canada has denied a visa to Ghanaian soccer player Thomas Partey, who is facing rape charges in the United Kingdom, preventing him from entering the country to participate in the upcoming World Cup. The decision was confirmed by FIFA on Friday.
Background of the case
The 32-year-old midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal in the English Premier League and now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, is due to stand trial in the UK next year. He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, which stem from allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
FIFA's statement
FIFA released a statement confirming that Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana's team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, because his visa application was refused by the Canadian government. FIFA emphasized that it is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries and that the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa.
Despite the visa denial, Partey is expected to play in the United States, where Ghana will play World Cup group stage matches against England and Croatia.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the high-profile status of the player. The Canadian government has not provided further details on the refusal.
