Former Arsenal Player Barred from Canada for Serious Reasons. Team Must Cope Without Him

“The International Football Federation (FIFA) confirms that Thomas Partey cannot travel from Ghana's training base in Boston to Canada for the first match of the championship against Panama, as his visa application was rejected by the Canadian government,” DPA news agency quoted from FIFA's statement.

The 32-year-old former Arsenal player was accused last year in London of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault between 2020 and 2022. Partey denied the allegations and is awaiting trial in 2027.

However, the midfielder is expected to feature in Ghana's remaining two Group L matches against England and Croatia. These will take place in the USA, where he has been granted a visa.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including visa issuance. As with previous events, the host country's government determines who receives visas,” added world football's governing body.