Thomas Partey Barred From Canada After Court Rejects Ghana Bid for World Cup Opener vs Panama

Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's World Cup opener against Panama after a federal court in Ottawa rejected Ghana's bid to get him into Canada, leaving him in the United States while the match is played in Toronto on Wednesday.

The BBC said the appeal ruling found there was "no serious issue in the underlying refusal" and that Partey failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK.

BBC

WSLS reported that Partey's visa application was denied last week and that Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the decision as a “high-handed and extremely unfair decision.”

Partey, who is 33 and plays for Spanish side Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty, and the BBC said he was due to stand trial next year.

The BBC reported that Partey wrongly told officials in Canada he had never been arrested or charged with a crime, and it said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told the broadcaster that hosting major events does not change Canada's immigration laws.

In court, Partey's lawyer Mackeda Bramwell told the court Tuesday that as a World Cup host nation, Canada had a “public interest” in allowing the “orderly participation of accredited national team athletes.”

BBC

WSLS said Partey told the court he would remain under constant supervision of team officials and will leave Canada when the team does, while also saying, “I have not been convicted of any offense. I have pleaded not guilty, and I remain presumed innocent,”

The BBC added that the court noted that under immigration rules "having reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed is sufficient" and that a conviction is not required to find the applicant inadmissible.

WSLS said the ruling means Partey will be eligible to play in Ghana's next two matches, both in the U.S., after the team’s first match against Panama in Toronto.

The BBC said Ghana play England in Boston on 23 June and Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June, and it added they could return to Canada in the last 32 if they finish as runners-up in Group L.

Before the ruling, WSLS reported that Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz said, "We have our plan settled," and added, "It’s not part of my business. My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me.”

The BBC also said Ghana play England in Boston on 23 June and Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June, and it noted Partey has played more than 50 times for Ghana since his debut in June 2016.