Does the English Association prevent its players from shaking hands with Ghana’s World Cup star? | sports

The English Football Association is studying how the Three Lions players will deal with Thomas Partey, the Ghana national team player, in the traditional handshake that precedes the start of matches.

The England national team will play against its Ghanaian counterpart on June 23 at Gillette Stadium in the second round matches of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, specifically Group 12.

Party accused of rape

Partey, the current Villarreal and former Arsenal player, faces charges related to rape during his time with the Gunners, and despite that, he was selected for the Ghana national team participating in the World Cup.

A British court charged Party with 5 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July of last year (2025), then two new counts of rape were brought against him in February of this year, but the player denied all of these accusations.

The British newspaper The Times believes that the English Football Association must currently find the best way to deal with the traditional handshake before the England-Ghana match.

She explained that the English Federation had already been asked whether it would consult the national team players on this issue, but it refused to answer.

FA officials are aware that two of the four Arsenal players in the current squad, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, are former teammates of Partey.

Queiroz defends Partey

Ghana’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz announced his final roster for the African national team participating in the World Cup, which already included Partey.

Queiroz was asked about his decision to choose Partey despite the charges against him, and he replied: “Simply, and as far as I know, in England, in Portugal, and anywhere else, the presumption of innocence remains with all cases brought before the courts until the judiciary issues its decision.”

He added: “But today this matter does not concern Thomas alone, and with all great regret, the way in which social media and the media sometimes deal with complete impunity makes us condemned even before we have the opportunity to defend ourselves, so let events take their natural course until we know the truth.”

Partey was scheduled to appear before Southwark Crown Court in London on the charges against him next November, amid possibilities that this could be postponed until early 2027, according to the British newspaper.

Under the terms of his bail, Partey is obligated to notify British authorities of any travel plans, and US federal law requires him to disclose this when entering the country.