Rio Ferdinand hits out at “fake comments” about controversial England-Ghana incident

Rio Ferdinand has refuted false remarks attributed to him about Thomas Partey, following a standoff with England teammate Djed Spence during the pre‑match handshake.

Spence appeared to avoid shaking hands with Partey before England and Ghana’s World Cup 2026 Group L clash, which ended in a 0‑0 draw on Tuesday night.

This situation arises amid Partey’s recent legal troubles; he faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in 2025, dating back to incidents between 2021 and 2022.

A fabricated quote circulated online suggested Ferdinand criticized Spence’s judgment, but the former England defender has since posted on X denying the comments and labeling them as fake.

Ferdinand has not provided any further comment on the handshake incident, leaving it uncertain whether the disputed remarks reflect his true stance.

No credible source has verified Ferdinand making such statements, and the unattributed social‑media posts remain the only references.

Despite the serious allegations, Partey continued his club career at Arsenal until his departure in summer 2025 and now plays for Villarreal in La Liga.

What’s the latest on the Thomas Partey case?

Partey is set for another trial after pleading not guilty; according to a BBC report, he remains on bail and is prohibited from contacting the alleged victims.

The Guardian has reported that Partey was denied entry into Canada for Ghana’s opening Group L fixture but secured a visa to play against England in the United States.

Ghana’s manager, Carlos Queiroz, defended the decision to retain the 33‑year‑old in the squad, stating: “Let events run their normal course, let the river flow and one day, when the river meets the ocean, we will find the truth.”

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