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Rabat – The Federal Court of Canada has dismissed a last-minute appeal by Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, officially ruling him out of the Black Stars’ opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto.
Reuters report that after the Canadian government rejected a visa application for the 33-year-old midfielder last week, Partey’s legal team launched an emergency, last-minute appeal with the Federal Court in Ottawa.
Justice Roger Lafrenière rejected the emergency application on Tuesday, upholding the government’s decision to deny the veteran midfielder entry into the country.
In his decision to dismiss the application, Judge Roger Lafreniere noted that Partey was seeking “extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief” which would force Canada to override a “lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event.
According to Reuters, Partey’s lawyer, Mackeda Bramwell, stated ahead of the verdict that the legal team had no plans to appeal if the judge ruled against the midfielder.
The former Arsenal midfielder faces multiple charges of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom, allegations he has firmly denied.
Although Partey successfully obtained a visa from the United States, Canadian authorities noted that their country’s immigration laws allow foreign nationals to be found inadmissible without a formal conviction abroad.
The Black Stars are set to launch their 2026 World Cup campaign in Toronto on Wednesday, facing off against Panama in a highly anticipated Group L opener.
The clash marks a crucial first step for both nations as they look to secure early points in a demanding group that also features European heavyweights England and Croatia.
