Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening World Cup match against Panama after a Canadian court rejected his attempt to overturn a decision denying him entry into the country.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Roger Lafrenière in Ottawa on Tuesday, means Partey will be unavailable for the Black Stars' first Group L fixture in Toronto on Thursday.
According to The Guardian, the judge dismissed an emergency application seeking to overturn an immigration decision that found the player inadmissible to Canada, ruling that Partey had failed to demonstrate sufficient grounds for emergency relief.
The case centres on criminal proceedings facing the former Arsenal midfielder in the United Kingdom (UK), where he has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is awaiting trial next year.
Court documents cited by The Guardian show Canadian immigration authorities sought clarification from Partey over the criminal charges he faces. The filings also indicate he declared in his entry application that he had not been charged with a criminal offence in any country.
In an affidavit submitted as part of his appeal, Partey maintained his innocence and argued that he posed no risk if allowed to enter Canada.
"I have not been convicted of any offence. I have pleaded not guilty, and I remain presumed innocent," Partey said.
He also argued that his absence would have a significant impact on Ghana's World Cup campaign, saying he had committed to remaining under the supervision of team officials and leaving Canada in accordance with the tournament schedule.
The decision represents a setback for Ghana ahead of its tournament opener, although Partey remains eligible to travel to the United States (US) for the remainder of the group stage. The Black Stars will face England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 28.
Before the ruling, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said the team was prepared for any outcome as it awaited the court's decision.
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