England players will be allowed to make their own choices on whether to shake hands with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey before Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup Group L match, UK media reports indicate.
The update comes as Ghana prepares to face England, with Partey anticipated to play after visa complications kept him out of the Black Stars’ 1-0 opening win against Panama in Canada.
The Daily Mail reported that the English Football Association (FA) will not give instructions to squad members about the traditional pre-match handshake with the former Arsenal player, who denies all allegations regarding criminal charges he faces in England.
According to the report, the FA wants to maintain a focus on football and will allow individual squad members to decide for themselves if they will take part in the pre-match greeting with the 33-year-old midfielder.
The report also noted that England manager Thomas Tuchel has routinely stayed away from political and legal disputes, insisting that his main job is to get his squad ready for games. Because of this stance, there have reportedly been no official talks inside the England squad regarding Partey’s legal issues before the match.
The situation is likely to generate significant interest because multiple England players, such as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, are former Arsenal teammates of Partey.
The Villarreal midfielder is projected to play his first game of the competition after sitting out Ghana’s late win over Panama. Partey could not go to Canada because immigration officials reportedly blocked his entry.
Reports indicate Canadian authorities turned down an appeal after a hearing revealed that specifics about his UK criminal charges were left off his visa application. His absence left Ghana to start the World Cup without their vice-captain and one of their most veteran squad members.
Even with the setback, the Black Stars claimed the victory via a 90th-minute goal from 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi. Government representatives, including Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, later stated that Ghana used diplomatic paths to ask Canadian officials for a review, though the decision stood.
Partey is scheduled to go to trial at Southwark Crown Court in London on one count of sexual assault and seven counts of rape. UK media reports state the legal proceedings are set to begin on June 7 next year.
The claims stem from 2022, when the player was initially arrested. He has repeatedly denied all the allegations. Throughout the investigation, Partey kept playing for Arsenal until his deal ran out at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, after which he signed with Spanish club Villarreal.
The legal case has drawn widespread coverage in Ghana and the United Kingdom, given the midfielder’s role as a key player for the Black Stars.
For Ghana, the pressing focus is still their World Cup run. The Black Stars head into Tuesday’s fixture lifted by the Panama victory and boosted by the expected comeback of Partey, whose veteran presence is seen as vital against an England team considered among the tournament frontrunners.
Though the midfielder’s legal problems remain in the news, both squads are expected to focus on the upcoming game as they chase a win that could heavily impact Group D. With a spot in the knockout rounds on the line, the match itself is expected to become the main focus once play begins, even as attention stays on one of the tournament’s most discussed players.