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England 0-0 Ghana; Spence Skips Handshake with Charged Partey

6/24/2026

43 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

England Draws Ghana

England and Ghana drew 0-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 23 June 2026.
Djed Spence appeared to avoid shaking Thomas Partey’s hand while Football Association gave no guidance to England players.
Thomas Partey, 33, faces seven rape and one sexual-assault charge in the United Kingdom, trial set for next year.
The draw left teams on four points, with England topping Group L on goal difference.

Summary

Partey Visa Denial

Canada denied Thomas Partey a visa after he answered “no” to a criminal-charge question, which officials called false.
Ghana’s government called the denial unfair and urged Canada to reconsider.
FIFA said it does not intervene in host-country immigration decisions for the tournament.
Partey, Achraf Hakimi, and Omar Artan experienced differing U.S. visa outcomes, with Partey and Hakimi allowed entry and Artan denied over alleged terror ties.

History

Historical Context

The European Court of Justice issued the Bosman ruling on 15 December 1995 in the case of Belgian midfielder Jean-Marc Bosman, ending transfer fees for out-of-contract EU players and banning EU quotas. The decision opened movement of football labour across Europe, a principle now tested as Ghana’s Thomas Partey faces a Canadian visa denial for the 2026 World Cup, underscoring the clash between mobility and immigration law.

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England Draws Ghana

England and Ghana drew 0-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 23 June 2026.
Djed Spence appeared to avoid shaking Thomas Partey’s hand while Football Association gave no guidance to England players.
Thomas Partey, 33, faces seven rape and one sexual-assault charge in the United Kingdom, trial set for next year.
The draw left teams on four points, with England topping Group L on goal difference.

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