Villarreal president Fernando Roig has defended Thomas Partey after the midfielder was booed during a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, urging the public not to “judge prematurely”. Partey, who joined the Spanish club earlier this month, faces eight counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three women.
The former Arsenal player appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week and was granted conditional bail. His bail conditions prevent him from contacting the three women and require him to notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. Despite the charges, Partey completed his move to Villarreal, which has sparked controversy.
Roig stated after the 2-0 loss to Villa: “The player is currently undergoing legal proceedings. He maintains his innocence and denies the charges against him. The club upholds the presumption of innocence, and it will be the responsibility of the English courts to clarify the facts.”
Addressing the boos, Roig claimed they came from Aston Villa fans, not Villarreal supporters. He added: “I wouldn’t like our own fans to whistle at players on our team. We must stand with the team and respect the presumption of innocence. He is not a convicted player. We must be cautious and wait for justice. Let’s not judge prematurely. Thomas has the right to do his job until there is a conviction.”
Partey will appear in court in London next month. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has previously said he is “100 percent” confident the club acted appropriately regarding the charges.
