English football fans booed every time Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey touched the ball at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts on Wednesday, as he faces ongoing rape charges in the UK.
Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year and has denied all the charges, with his lawyer noting he welcomes the opportunity to clear his name.
The 33-year-old Arsenal player was previously denied entry to Canada and missed Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama last week. A Canadian judge rejected Partey’s request to temporarily override a visa decision by immigration officials, pointing out that Partey had failed to disclose he is the subject of multiple charges.
When asked about missing the first game in Canada, Partey told reporters: “Well, I think it’s part of football, things happening outside of football that you can’t control. For me now, I feel OK and I’m ready to play.”
Before kick-off in Ghana’s game against England in Boston, English defender and Tottenham star Djed Spence appeared to refuse to shake hands with Partey.
Djed Spence refused to shake Thomas Partey’s hand🤝❌ pic.twitter.com/taShNm5FPm
— World Cup 2026 Daily (@TotalFootball) June 23, 2026
During the game, Partey was relentlessly booed every time he touched the ball, with fans not shy to express their disapproval. He was also booed when his name was announced prior to kick-off.
The decision to allow Party into the US — after first being denied entry to Canada — was made by the US customs and border protection, who released a statement saying: “The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr Partey. However, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa”.
Partey was named vice-captain of Ghana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the charges against him.
The game between England and Panama ended in a 0-0 draw. The men’s FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico.