Thomas Partey made his competitive debut for Villarreal on Friday, receiving a mixed reaction from the crowd at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The 32-year-old former Arsenal midfielder, who has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in England, was introduced as a substitute in the 82nd minute during the 2-0 win over Real Oviedo.
Some whistles were heard among the applause as Partey entered the pitch, but the protest was not sustained throughout his brief appearance. According to local media, the whistles were not significant enough to be noticed by all observers, with Cadena Ser's correspondent reporting he had not heard any. There were no banners, chants or social media campaigns against the player.
Partey's signing had drawn criticism from some fans, with an online petition against it garnering just over 1,000 signatures. José Ángel Arnau, a spokesperson for the federation of Villarreal supporters' clubs, described the move as an unnecessary mess that contradicted the club's family image. However, supporters' club president Javier Pérez urged fans to back the player.
Villarreal president Fernando Roig defended the decision to sign Partey, citing the presumption of innocence. At the moment, Partey is as innocent as everyone else here. That fundamental right must be respected. He is a great player and he will help us grow as a team. If he is found guilty he will no longer be part of Villarreal but he is not yet, Roig said.
Partey appeared in court in early August and was granted conditional bail. He denies all charges. His lawyer stated he welcomes the opportunity to clear his name. The allegations date back to 2021 and 2022 during his time at Arsenal, and his contract with Villarreal includes a clause allowing automatic termination if he is found guilty.
