The government of Ghana protests against the "Canada World Cup."

The government of Ghana submitted an official protest today, Saturday, regarding Canada's refusal to grant a visa to player Thomas Partey, who is on trial in Britain for rape charges, to participate in the World Cup.

Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated in a statement that Ghana objects to the "arbitrary and extremely unfair" decision to deny Partey's visa application, "who is a key player in the Ghanaian national team." He added: "Ghana has sent an official note of protest" to Canada, one of the host countries alongside the United States and Mexico, and continued that "the note also requested Canada to reconsider its unfortunate decision."

The same minister added: "While we respect Canada's sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, Ghana believes that relying on unproven allegations in the absence of a judicial ruling raises fundamental questions about justice and proportionality."

Partey (33 years old), former midfielder for Arsenal and current player for Villarreal, will not be able to travel to Toronto, where Ghana will begin its World Cup journey against Panama on the 17th of this month. The Ghanaian national team has been training in the United States, at Bryant University in Boston.

Partey is expected to be eligible to participate in Ghana's next two matches in Group 12 against England and Croatia, which will take place in the United States.

Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault related to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.

The player is scheduled to appear in court next year.

In the same context, FIFA confirmed that Partey will not be able to travel from the Ghanaian national team's camp in Boston to Canada for their opening match against Panama, clarifying that he "is not involved in the immigration procedures of the host countries, including the processing of visa applications."