Ghana slams Canada’s decision to deny World Cup visa for Partey, who faces rape charges

Ghana's government has criticized Canada's "extremely unfair" decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for his team's World Cup opener while he awaits trial on rape charges, and it threatened legal action in a bid to overturn the refusal.

The 32-year-old Partey, who is scheduled to stand trial in London later this year, returned to Ghana's base camp in Rhode Island after Canada denied his visa application to enter the country for Wednesday's match against Panama in Toronto.

Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday issued a statement criticizing what it called "the high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada to refuse a temporary residence application" for Partey.

He faces allegations from several women dating to his time with English club Arsenal from 2020-25. Partey, who played in Spain for Villarreal this past season, has pleaded not guilty.

Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, had also cited a presumption of innocence for Partey when he included the player on his World Cup squad.

Ghana’s Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada ahead of FIFA World Cup match

Ghana's government said it had sent an "official note of protest" to Canada asking for the decision to be reviewed.

It said it was "determined to explore and pursue all available diplomatic, legal and administrative remedies under Canadian and international law, including, where appropriate, judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada, to ensure full and fair consideration of all relevant legal and factual issues in accordance with due process."

The statement added that the ministry has been holding talks with Canadian officials and that Ghana "remains committed to constructive engagements" with their counterparts in pursuit of "an amicable