England Defender Opts Out of Handshake with Ghana's Thomas Partey Amid Ongoing Criminal Case

Ahead of their World Cup 2026 Group L clash in Boston, England defender Jed Spence declined to participate in the traditional pre-match handshake with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, following a policy from the Football Association (FA) that left the decision to individual players. The FA's stance was linked to the ongoing criminal proceedings against Partey in the United Kingdom, where he faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women between 2020 and 2022. Partey has denied all charges and is scheduled to stand trial next summer.

Partey missed Ghana's opening World Cup match against Panama, a 1-0 victory, after being denied entry into Canada due to his legal situation. The visa refusal drew criticism from Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which described it as a "high-handed and extremely unfair decision." A Canadian federal judge rejected Ghana's appeal, and Canadian officials stated that immigration decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, independent of the World Cup. However, Partey has been granted a visa for the United States, allowing him to play in Ghana's remaining group matches.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's match, Partey acknowledged the challenges but expressed readiness to play. "Things happen outside football that you cannot control," he said. "For me now, I feel OK and I'm ready to play." He also looked forward to reuniting with former Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, adding, "I hope they're going to bring their best and try to give us the opportunity to play against the best and try to compete and enjoy the game."

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz did not confirm whether Partey would start against England. Ghana currently sits second in Group L and will face Croatia in their final group match on Saturday. The match against England is a crucial test for both teams as they vie for advancement in the tournament.