Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey has been refused entry into Canada ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup group game against Panama.

The Black Stars are set to face Panama in Toronto at midnight UK time on Wednesday, June 17, in their first match of the tournament.

A spokesperson for Ghana confirmed that Partey had been denied a visa to enter Canada, though no official explanation was provided for the decision.

FIFA moved quickly to clarify their position, stating they hold no responsibility over the immigration decisions made by host nations at the tournament.

In a formal statement, FIFA said: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.”

FIFA added: “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

The 33-year-old is currently facing six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in England, with a further charge of rape and sexual assault added this year.

Partey appeared in court in Spain after his Arsenal contract expired last summer, denying all charges against him, and he is due to stand trial in London next year.

Despite the Canada situation, Partey has not been denied entry into the United States, where Ghana have established their base camp in Boston ahead of the tournament.

The Black Stars have two further group games on American soil, facing England in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia in Philadelphia, where Partey is expected to be available for selection.

This season proved difficult for the midfielder in La Liga, as he struggled to secure a regular starting position under Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral, who publicly criticised his performances.

It remains unclear whether Villarreal will exercise their option to extend Partey’s contract for a further year, adding further uncertainty to his immediate club future beyond the World Cup.

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