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BREAKING: Ghana’s Thomas Partey barred from entering Canada
Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter
Content warning: this story contains references to sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been barred from entering Canada, an official statement by FIFA has confirmed.
The 32-year-old former Arsenal midfielder has seen his latest visa application rejected by the host country’s administration, meaning he will not partake in any of their matches in the tournament across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
His country is one of two whose training camps for the 2026 World Cup are based in Canada, and are due to play Panama in their opening Group L fixture on Thursday 17th of June.
It is the second time that FIFA has explicitly stated that it is not involved in any of the United States, Canada’s, or Mexico’s approach to immigration and the handling of requests for visas to participate in the World Cup.
While FIFA did not relay a specific reason for his visa not getting processed by Canada’s administration in their statement, Partey is currently battling a legal challenge by a claimant on the grounds of rape.
FIFA’s statement read: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana’s base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their opening match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17th, as his visa application has been rejected by the Canadian government.
“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of the host countries, including the issuance of visas.
“As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Partey had been expected to participated with Ghana at the 2026 World Cup following his £45m move from Premier League champions Arsenal to Atlético Madrid back in 2020, but will now not be playing alongside his teammates.
Parety pleaded not guilty to two new counts of raping a woman in Demember 2020 at Southwark Crown Court in April, and has Ipleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault involving four women in total.
It is the second time that FIFA has explicitly stated that it is not involved in any of the United States, Canada’s, or Mexico’s approach to immigration and the handling of requests for visas to participate in the World Cup.
The first came as Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the US, with President Donald Trump’s administration suspecting links to terror organisations in his home country.
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