After Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada to play in next week’s World Cup opener against Panama, his nation’s diplomats are attempting to intervene.

The Canadian government denied a visa application for Partey, 32, who is awaiting trial in England on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault. The former Arsenal star has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Ghana’s opening match in Group L is on Wednesday against Panama in Toronto.

“The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies,” read a statement from Ghana’s ministry of foreign affairs published on Saturday on X.

“While respecting Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghana considers that reliance on unproven charges in the absence of judicial determination raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality.

“Accordingly, Ghana is pursuing active diplomatic engagement with relevant Canadian authorities on this matter.”

The United States had already permitted Partey to enter its national borders when the Black Stars set up their World Cup base camp in Providence, R.I. Presumably, Partey would re-join the side for their second and third group games against England in Foxborough, Mass., on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.

Partey, who currently plays for Spain’s Villarreal, has scored 16 goals in 58 career caps for Ghana, including three goals during the 2026 World Cup qualifying process.

–Field Level Media