Ghana's Partey Barred from Canada, Misses World Cup Opener
Partey, who departed Arsenal and currently plays for Villarreal, was charged by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty in September 2025. Two additional rape charges followed in February this year, with a subsequent not guilty plea entered in April.
Ghana's squad touched down in Washington, DC on June 4 to begin World Cup preparations, with Partey present in camp. While US authorities approved his visa application, Canadian immigration officials rejected his entry.
The denial stems from Canadian admissibility rules. According to the Canadian government, "if you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada." Partey has not been convicted and remains awaiting trial.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) declined to discuss specifics, telling The Athletic ahead of the tournament: "Without any signed consent form, it is not possible for IRCC to provide details regarding any individual situation."
Partey remains eligible for Ghana's subsequent Group F fixtures — against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 — both held on US soil.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
