A fragmented response
In July 2025, Thomas Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with two additional rape accusations following in February 2026. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London is slated for 2027.
The incident has sparked a patchwork of reactions across the game. A pre‑match handshake between Partey and Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence was captured on camera, prompting BBC presenter Gabby Logan to explain the background of the charges and the broader scrutiny surrounding the player.
Legal and cultural contrasts
Partey’s participation in England’s 0‑0 draw in Foxborough, Massachusetts, contrasted with his inability to enter Canada, where he missed Ghana’s opening 1‑0 victory over Panama in Toronto. The Canadian authorities cited the seriousness of the allegations as grounds for denying him entry.
Within the Premier League, the response has been inconsistent. While some clubs have issued statements, others have remained silent, and managers such as Roberto De Zerbi have spoken about the need to avoid downplaying violence against women, even as they continue to field players like Partey.
The case also draws comparison with other high‑profile incidents, such as Mason Greenwood’s earlier charges, which were later dropped, and the ongoing trial of Achraf Hakimi in France, where the player remains with Paris Saint‑Germain and captains Morocco despite the allegations.
The NFL’s publicly available conduct policy, which outlines how accusations of sexual or domestic violence are handled, stands in stark contrast to football’s fragmented approach. Analysts argue that the sport has yet to adopt a comparable framework, leaving victims without a clear pathway for justice.
The author, a female football journalist who has investigated the intersection of the sport and violence against women, concludes that football has not tried hard enough to address these allegations, and that the lack of a consistent policy allows the issue to linger beneath the surface until it is thrust into the spotlight by a headline.