Omanghana
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s FIFA World Cup opener in Canada after a Federal Court judge dismissed his request for emergency relief to overturn an immigration decision barring his entry.
Justice Roger Lafrenière ruled against the 32-year-old’s application on Tuesday, denying his bid to temporarily suspend Canada’s inadmissibility finding and travel to Toronto for Ghana’s opening match against Panama.
The decision means Partey will remain with the Black Stars in the United States while his teammates prepare for the crucial group-stage fixture.
Court Declines Emergency Intervention
In delivering the ruling, Justice Lafrenière concluded that Partey had failed to establish sufficient grounds for emergency judicial relief. The judge also determined that the balance of convenience favored preserving Canada’s existing immigration framework rather than granting a temporary exemption.
Canadian authorities previously deemed Partey inadmissible to enter the country, despite his accreditation as a World Cup participant.
The midfielder is currently awaiting trial in England on seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has not been convicted of any offence.
Ghana Prepared to Move Forward
Before the court’s decision was announced, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Partey’s availability and stressed that the team would adapt if necessary.
Queiroz said his focus remained on working with the players available to him while awaiting the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Although Partey cannot travel to Canada, he has been permitted to enter the United States, where Ghana held its training camp and is scheduled to play additional World Cup matches in Boston and Philadelphia.
Legal Team Argued Participation Served Public Interest
Partey’s legal representatives sought a temporary order allowing him to enter Canada while immigration authorities completed their review of his case.
His lawyer argued that permitting the midfielder to participate would serve the public interest, noting Canada’s role as one of the host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and emphasizing the importance of facilitating the participation of accredited national-team athletes.
In a sworn affidavit submitted to the court, Partey stated that he would remain under the continuous supervision of officials from the Ghana Football Association throughout his stay and would depart Canada according to the tournament schedule.
He also emphasized that he remains presumed innocent under the law, having pleaded not guilty and not been convicted of any criminal offence.
Judge Says Charges May Be Considered
Justice Lafrenière rejected the argument that the absence of a conviction should automatically guarantee Partey’s admission into Canada.
The ruling stated that immigration authorities were entitled to consider the pending criminal charges in England when assessing his admissibility under Canadian law.
While declining to grant emergency relief, the judge encouraged immigration officials to promptly review Partey’s outstanding requests for reconsideration and for a temporary resident permit.
For now, however, Ghana will begin its World Cup campaign without one of its most experienced midfielders as the team turns its attention to its opening match against Panama.
Source: Omanghana
