Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey has stated he is prepared to play against England, following his successful entry into the United States. The player, who previously featured for Arsenal, was unable to join Ghana for their initial World Cup match against Panama due to issues with Canadian entry officials.
Partey, 33, missed Ghana‘s victory over Panama last week. His absence stemmed from ongoing legal proceedings in the UK, where he faces charges related to sexual assault and rape. He has denied all charges.
Availability for England Fixture
Despite being denied entry to Canada, Partey has been granted a visa for the United States, making him eligible to play in the upcoming match against England in Boston. US customs and border protection (CBP) confirmed his admission, noting that he has not been convicted of a crime at this time.
The Villarreal player commented on the situation, stating, “It’s part of football. Things happen outside football that you cannot control. For me now, I feel OK and ready to play.”
Ghana‘s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, expressed confidence in his team’s motivation for the match. He noted that playing against prominent teams like England, France, or Germany naturally ensures players are fully engaged and eager to perform.
Pre-match Handshake Protocol
The Football Association has not issued a specific directive regarding the pre-match handshake ritual involving Partey and England players. The decision on whether to participate in the handshake will be left to individual England squad members, which include former clubmates of Partey, such as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Legal experts suggest that it would be ill-advised for the FA to take an official stance on the handshake, as it could be perceived as prejudicial to Partey‘s upcoming trial. Many players reportedly view the pre-match handshake as a formality without significant meaning.
Context of Canadian Entry Denial
Partey‘s inability to enter Canada for Ghana‘s opening World Cup game in Toronto was due to Canadian officials refusing his entry. This decision was influenced by his response to questions during his visa application, where he stated he had never been arrested or charged with a crime.
This denial led to a significant reaction in Ghana, with some initially attributing blame to the co-hosts of the tournament. The Ghanaian ministry of foreign affairs criticised Canada’s decision, citing reliance on unproven charges. However, it later emerged that Partey‘s visa application contained inaccurate information regarding his legal status.
A court ruling indicated that Partey had answered “No” to questions about having committed, been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of any criminal offence in any country. This revelation sparked political debate in Ghana regarding the handling of the visa application by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Politician Fiifi Boafo from the opposition New Patriotic party in Ghana commented on the situation, suggesting that there had been misleading information provided to the public. Similarly, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a senior fellow at the University of Ghana, described the situation as an “amateur hour” at the GFA, calling for accountability.
The GFA, however, maintained that its role in the visa application process had been “mischaracterised.” They stated that they supported and facilitated visa applications for their delegation and worked closely with Partey, his legal representatives, Fifa, and Canadian authorities. The GFA asserted that the court did not find any fault or misconduct on their part and that they acted diligently and professionally.
While Partey was at the team’s training base at Bryant University in Rhode Island, his teammates secured a 1-0 win against Panama with a late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
