Later this month, the Football Association will talk about how England players should handle meeting a Ghanaian midfield player at the World Cup.
Wales fans jeered Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey during his country’s international friendly on Tuesday night at Cardiff City Stadium.
When Partey, a former midfielder for Arsenal, touched the ball for the first time during Ghana’s World Cup warm-up match, he was harshly mocked.
The 32-year-old is scheduled to go on trial in the UK for alleged sexual assault and rape. In February of this year, he was charged with two further counts of rape after being charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault last year. He entered a not guilty plea.
Hours after Partey was chosen for Ghana’s World Cup roster, the Wales match ended in a 1-1 tie.
Former Real Madrid manager and Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz has justified Partey’s inclusion.
Queiroz stated, “It’s a straightforward and fundamental response.” To the best of my knowledge, the presumption of innocence applies to all court trials, whether they are in Portugal, England, or another country.
“But today, and this is not just about Thomas, we are condemned before we have a chance to defend ourselves due to the way the media and social media occasionally act with complete impunity.”
When asked if he was worried about the choice, Queiroz responded, “My answer is clear if the player is here with me.” Regarding my own choices, I have nothing to say. What are we talking about when he’s here?
“Neither you nor I should pass judgment on this. Let things unfold as they normally would. We will discover the truth when the river joins the ocean, so let it run.
Partey, who left Arsenal last year and played 32 games for Villarreal in the 2025–26 season, is scheduled to play England in the World Cup. On June 23, Ghana will play England in the group stages. The Football Association is debating how players ought to handle the traditional handshake.
When Partey played football against Tottenham Hotspur in September of last year, it became clear that the terms of his release permitted him to play, but he had to provide police 24 hours’ notice of any overseas travel and refrain from contacting the complainants.
Arrests and convictions elsewhere in the globe must be disclosed when applying for a visa in order to enter the United States. Ghana’s headquarters will be at Bryant University, which is close to Boston.
About The Author
