England defender Djed Spence appeared to refuse a handshake with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey before a World Cup match in Boston, drawing widespread attention and praise amid Partey's pending rape and sexual assault charges.
Handshake Snub Caught on Camera
Footage from the 0-0 draw showed Spence, 25, keeping his hand by his side as Partey approached for the pre-match handshake. Partey glanced back at Spence before moving on to shake hands with other England players. The moment was not shown on live TV but circulated widely on social media, amassing millions of views across Reddit, Instagram, and X.
Spence was the only England player to avoid shaking Partey's hand in the lineup, according to available footage.
Partey's Legal Situation
Thomas Partey, 33, faces seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women between 2020 and 2022. He has pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in London next year. The allegations have been a significant talking point at the World Cup.
Last week, Partey missed Ghana's match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada for incorrectly stating on his visa application that he had never been arrested or charged. The Ghanaian government's appeal for his temporary entry was rejected. However, his visa for the United States was accepted; US Customs and Border Protection stated, “The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr. Partey. However, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa.”
Public Reaction and Praise for Spence
Many praised Spence for showing integrity. One Reddit user wrote, “Good for him... shame on them for even allowing him in the tournament.” Another said, “It is still unacceptable that players with these charges are being selected to represent their countries.” On X, users commended Spence for “being the only England player to show contempt to an accused multiple rapist.” One user added, “the bar well and truly is in hell, but I’m just happy someone on that pitch cared enough to make a statement.”
Coaches' Responses
England manager Thomas Tuchel was prevented from answering questions about the moment during a post-match press conference, with a team spokesperson citing “legal reasons.” Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz commented, “We refuse to be part of people that try to bring dust and politics inside the game. We fight to keep the four lines sacred.”
Spence has not publicly commented on the incident.
