Ghana international Thomas Partey is currently facing eight criminal charges, including seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, involving four different women. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2022.
Timeline of Charges and Court Proceedings
The Crown Prosecution Service initially charged the midfielder with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault in July 2025. Following further investigations, authorities formally added two additional rape charges in February 2026, bringing the total to eight charges.
The former Arsenal and current Villarreal midfielder has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He remains on bail with legal conditions that prohibit him from contacting the alleged victims.
Trial Postponed to 2027
The trial was initially scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court in November 2026 but has been postponed. A judge recently agreed to delay the proceedings, setting a new start date for June 8, 2027.
World Cup Visa Issues
Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, Canadian authorities rejected Partey's visa application to enter the country for a World Cup match. However, he was permitted to travel to the United States to participate in other scheduled matches for the Ghana national team.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated: ''Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada's immigration laws. Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.''
FIFA issued a statement confirming: ''FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government. FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.''
