At the World Cup hosted in the United States, England faced Ghana in their second Group L match. The presence of midfielder Thomas Partey on the pitch sparked a strong reaction from the crowd, who jeered him every time he touched the ball.
During the pre-match team introductions, England defender Djed Spence was captured on camera appearing to refuse a handshake with Partey. The image quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread commentary.
Thomas Partey, a former Arsenal player, is facing seven rape charges and two counts of sexual assault in the United Kingdom. The allegations involve four different women and date from 2020 to 2022, during his time with Arsenal. Partey has denied all charges and is expected to appear in court in November this year or later.
Earlier, Partey was denied a visa by Canada, which prevented him from playing in Ghana's opening match against Panama in Toronto. However, last week he told reporters he felt fine and was ready to play against former Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Spence's action drew praise from many online, but also sparked debate over the ease with which the United States granted Partey a visa, while Iran's team had to wait up to ten days before their first match to receive theirs. Additionally, many questioned why Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who also faces rape allegations, was permitted to play in the World Cup. Hakimi has denied all allegations.
