Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey had appealed against the decision to deny him a visa to enter Canada for their World Cup opener against Panama on Wednesday
Thomas Partey won’t be allowed into Canada(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Thomas Partey has lost his appeal and still won’t be allowed into Canada after being denied a visa. Partey won’t be part of the Ghana squad that faces Panama in their World Cup opener in Toronto on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was denied entry to Canada due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. He is due to stand trial next year accused of seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
Partey has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada previous 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.”
The Ghanaian government stepped in to try and help Partey, calling Canada’s decision “high-handed and extremely unfair”. An appeal hearing took place in Ottawa on Tuesday and has ended in the original decision standing.
Ghana play Panama in their first Group L fixture on Thursday, shortly after the conclusion of England’s opening game against Croatia. They then face England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. However, they could return to Canada if they make it through to the knockout stages as runners up in Group L.
In a previous statement, FIFA said: “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.”
Ghana head coach Carlos Quieroz has consistently stated that he will continue selecting Partey. “My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” he said on Tuesday. “We are waiting for a decision. When the decision [arrives], we are ready.”
Partey, who spent five years with Arsenal before joining Villarreal last summer, is an important player for Ghana. He has won 57 caps for his country and played every minute at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
