Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has visa appeal denied for World Cup by Canadian court

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has had his visa appeal denied by a Canadian court, meaning he will miss Ghana's opening World Cup game.The midfielder was denied entry due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.Ghana's Government had launched a legal challenge in a bid to overturn the decision, with the appeal hearing taking place at a federal court in Ottawa.Judge Roger Lafreniere dismissed the appeal, writing that Partey sought extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief that would mean Canada sets aside a lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The 33-year-old, who now plays for Villarreal in Spain, remains one of the most experienced members of the national team and has earned more than 50 caps for his country.Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.He is due to stand trial next year.Ghanaian officials previously publicly criticised Canada's decision, describing it as unfair and disproportionate.LATEST SPORTS NEWSWorld Cup 2026 day six: France lead Senegal as Kylian Mbappe gets on scoresheetRuben Amorim lands new role six months after being sacked by Manchester UnitedEngland star set to miss the whole of the World Cup after suffering injury blowCanadian authorities had previously defended their position.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada's immigration laws.Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.The dispute has created an unwanted distraction for Ghana ahead of one of the biggest matches in the nation's recent football history.Head coach Carlos Queiroz had already made it clear before the tournament that he was comfortable selecting Partey despite the off-field issues surrounding the player.The midfielder was included in Ghana's World Cup squad and had been expected to play a key role during the competition.Ghana have been drawn alongside Panama, England and Croatia in Group L and faces a difficult route to the knockout stages.After Wednesday's clash with Panama, they will take on England in Boston before concluding the group phase against Croatia in Philadelphia.Should Ghana progress as runners-up, they could even find themselves returning to Canada later in the tournament.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter