Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama after falsely claiming to Canadian officials that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime.
The 33‑year‑old midfielder was turned away at the border in Toronto because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Ghana requested a temporary entry permit for Partey to participate in the match, but a federal court in Ottawa rejected the appeal.
The ruling noted that there was “no serious issue in the underlying refusal” of the visa and that “the applicant failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK.”
Partey, a former Arsenal player, has pleaded not guilty to seven rape charges and one sexual‑assault count stemming from allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022; his trial is scheduled for next year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told the BBC that “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.”
