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Ghana has asked a Canadian court to overturn Ottawa’s decision to ban footballer Thomas Partey, a day before the Ghanaian side’s World Cup opener in Toronto.
Partey, a Villarreal midfielder, is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in Britain relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
He denies the allegations, but Canada last week refused to grant him a World Cup visa.
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Accra filed a request for an injunction in Canadian federal court early Tuesday, seeking to set aside Ottawa’s decision and potentially allow Partey to enter Canada and play against Panama on Wednesday.
Canadian media said a judge received the request on Tuesday morning and was reviewing it.
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Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters in Toronto that his side would be ready, regardless of the court’s decision.
“It is not necessary to make comments. The story is open,” said Queiroz, a Portuguese national born in Mozambique.
“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me. We are waiting for a decision. When the decision (comes), we are ready.”
Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has called Canada’s decision “high-handed and extremely unfair,” describing Partey as “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team.”
Accra has sent an official “note of protest” to Ottawa over the move and formally asked Canada to review the decision, Ablakwa said.
Canada’s foreign ministry has not responded to a query regarding its response to Ghana’s protest.
Queiroz declined to comment on how the absence of Partey, who previously played for Arsenal, could impact his side.
NEYMAR NEARS RETURN FROM INJURY
Brazil forward Neymar, who was diagnosed with a right calf injury in late May, trained at the World Cup for the first time Tuesday in a sign he may be nearing a return.
The 34-year-old has been undergoing treatment since the squad’s arrival in the United States, but took another step in his recovery process as he was out running at Brazil’s training base in New Jersey.
Brazil’s all-time record scorer has yet to return to full training after missing the team’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday.
Neymar has been an integral part of Brazil’s last three World Cup campaigns but there was some surprise at his inclusion this time as injuries have prevented him from playing for his country at all since 2023.
He has featured in just half of his club’s games in the Brazilian league, cup and Copa Sudamericana this year due to various fitness issues.
Brazil’s next game is against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday. They face Scotland in their final Group C game in Miami on June 24.
