Ghana to pursue legal action over Partey's Canada visa denial
Midfielder Thomas Partey was blocked from entering Canada ahead of Ghana's World Cup opener in Toronto, sparking a diplomatic dispute over presumption of innocence.
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Ghana's government announced Saturday it will pursue legal action over Canada's decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa, calling the move "extremely unfair."
Partey, who pleaded not guilty to rape allegations related to his time at English club Arsenal in 2025, was scheduled to travel with Ghana's national team from its base camp in Smithfield, Rhode Island, to Toronto for an opening match against Panama on June 17. Canada's immigration authorities rejected his visa application.
In a statement, Ghana said Partey should be presumed innocent ahead of his trial, which is scheduled for November or later. The country said it is exploring "all diplomatic, legal and administrative avenues" in response.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it makes decisions on a case-by-case basis and that "hosting major events does not change its laws."