Ghana's Partey Returns to World Cup Action After Visa Denial, Faces Handshake Snub

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey returned to World Cup play on Tuesday after missing his team's opening match due to a denied Canadian visa while awaiting trial on rape charges in Britain. Partey's comeback match against England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, ended in a 0-0 draw but was marked by controversy when videos circulated showing England defender Djed Spence apparently refusing to shake his hand during the pregame handshake line. In the footage, Spence shook hands with players immediately before and after Partey but appeared to place his hand in his pocket as the Ghanaian midfielder approached.

Partey, 33, faces serious allegations in Britain. He has been accused by four different women of sexual assault and rape, with charges spanning from 2020 to 2022. His lawyer indicated in March that Partey intends to plead not guilty to two new rape charges brought by a woman who alleged he assaulted her twice on the same day in December 2020. These new charges came after the initial set of five rape counts and one sexual assault charge related to other women became public.

The handshake incident drew immediate reaction from both teams' leadership. When asked about the encounter, England coach Thomas Tuchel's media officer Andrew Walker interrupted to state: "I'm sorry, but for legal reasons we're not going to be discussing that today." Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz flatly denied any snub occurred, saying: "Look, this did not happen. We refuse to be part of people that try to bring dust and politics inside the game. We fight to keep the four lines sacred."

Partey also faced a cool reception from the heavily pro-England crowd at the stadium, being booed whenever he touched the ball. Despite the tension, his Ghana teammates expressed support. Midfielder Kwasi Sibo said: "When we saw him starting the game, we are all happy. We are all with him to let him stay focused and help the team, because he's our main man and we'll always be with him." Partey, who previously spent five seasons with Arsenal in the Premier League and played last season for Spanish club Villarreal, did not speak to reporters on Tuesday but stated after Monday's training that he felt ready to play.

The visa denial that kept Partey out of Ghana's opening match—a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto—highlighted the intersection of international sports and legal proceedings. Ghana's final group-stage match is scheduled for Sunday against Croatia in Philadelphia, both matches held in the United States as part of the 2026 World Cup being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.