Canada refuses to allow Ghana’s Thomas Partey into country after visa appeal – despite being let in by US | OneFootball

Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's World Cup match against Panama after a Canadian court on Tuesday dismissed his appeal against being denied entry.

The 33-year-old had been refused a visa by the Canadian government last week, prompting his legal team to launch a last-minute challenge at the Federal Court in Ottawa.

The Black Stars play Panama in their Group L match in Toronto on Wednesday.

In dismissing the appeal, judge Roger Lafreniere wrote that Partey sought "extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief" that would have required Canada to set aside a "lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event."

Ahead of the verdict, Partey's lawyer Mackeda Bramwell told Reuters they were hopeful of a positive outcome. Bramwell said Partey would not appeal if the judge ruled against him.

She did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment following the judge's decision.

Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada (AFP/Getty)

Former Arsenal midfielder Partey faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain.

The 33-year-old denies seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.

The U.S. government has granted Partey a visa, but Canada's immigration officials said that under Canadian law, foreign nationals can be found inadmissible without a foreign conviction.

"When there are reasonable grounds to believe an act that would trigger inadmissibility has been committed by an applicant, they can be deemed inadmissible to Canada," a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Reuters.

In Ghana and across Canada's Ghanaian diaspora, Partey's visa refusal has led to anger and frustration among the national team's fans.

Speaking to Reuters on Monday, Akua Mensah, 45, a Canadian with Ghanaian roots, said the decision by the Canadian government was unfortunate.

The U.S. government has granted Partey a visa, but Canada's immigration officials said that under Canadian law, foreign nationals can be found inadmissible without a foreign conviction.

Ghana's base camp for the World Cup is in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where Partey has been able to train after being allowed into the United States.

As a result, Partey will still be eligible to play when Ghana face England in Massachusetts on 23 June.

Ghana then conclude their group stage against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.