Ghana’s urgent bid to get midfielder Thomas Partey into Canada for the FIFA World Cup heads to Federal Court today. A judge will hear an injunction application seeking to overturn Canada’s decision to block his entry.
Partey, 32, remains in the United States after being denied entry for Ghana’s opening match against Panama in Toronto. He is awaiting trial in England on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault involving three women. His lawyer has stated he intends to plead not guilty.
Ghana’s government has called the decision “extremely unfair.” Canadian officials maintain that immigration decisions are case-by-case and that hosting the World Cup does not supersede Canadian law.