Two World Cup Players Are Facing Rape Trials And The US Let Them Play After Canada Said NO

Alright, listen up, because the World Cup is already throwing some wild curveballs, and I'm not talking about on the pitch. Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal guy now with Villarreal, is finally set to hit the field for Ghana today against England. But dude, the backstory? It's messed up. This cat was barred from entering Canada for their first game, Ghana still snagged a 1-0 win against Panama without him, but now he's in the US, cleared to play, while facing some seriously heavy charges.

London's Metropolitan Police have charged him with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, and he's awaiting trial. He's pleaded not guilty, but still, this is a whole other level.

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The Canadian Stance Was Clear

Remember how he missed that Panama game? Canada said NO. The team rolled over the US-Canada border from Rhode Island, but Partey's visa was denied. Why? Canadian law lets them refuse entry even without a conviction. And get this: court documents dropped that his May visa application falsely answered "no" to whether he'd ever been charged or arrested for a criminal offense. FIFA basically shrugged, saying they're "not involved in the immigration processes of host countries." Canada themselves were pretty clear, too, saying hosting major events doesn't change their immigration laws. Everyone gets assessed individually, based on the facts and the law. Hard stop.

A Wild US Welcome For Accused Players

So, Canada drew a line, but the US? Totally different story. Partey got his US visa before the tournament. That's why he's eligible to play against England today, and later against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. He even spoke to the media after training, saying, "I think for me now it’s part of football. Things happen outside football that you cannot control, but for me now I feel OK and I am ready to play." You know he's gonna get booed in Boston, just like Achraf Hakimi did. Hakimi, the captain for Morocco, is also facing trial for rape allegations, and a French appeals court just confirmed he's going to trial. He denies wrongdoing, but Scotland fans in Boston already made their feelings known when he touched the ball during Morocco's second match. And get this for even more contrast: other folks, even a respected Somali referee named Omar Artan, got denied US visas because of "alleged association with suspected members of terror organisations," with zero evidence shared. Talk about a double standard.

So yeah, today's Ghana vs. England match, and the upcoming games, they've got this wild, uncomfortable backdrop. When Partey steps onto that field, or when Hakimi plays, it's not just about the game. It's about what it means when two players awaiting trial on serious charges are playing on the biggest stage, especially when one was deemed inadmissible just across the border. What are we even watching here?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.