Thomas Partey walked onto the field in Boston on Monday night expecting a World Cup tune-up. Instead, he got a hostile reception from England fans and a moment that went viral before halftime.
The Ghana midfielder, who spent five years at Arsenal before moving to Villarreal last summer, was booed loudly when his name was announced before kickoff. The jeers continued every time he touched the ball early in the match. But the most talked-about moment came after the national anthems, when England’s Djed Spence appeared to refuse a handshake from Partey.
Videos circulating on social media show the Tottenham defender keeping his hands down as Partey extended his arm. Spence turned and walked away. The gesture lasted maybe two seconds, but it said everything about the cloud hanging over this game.
Why the Fans Turned on Partey
Partey was denied entry into Canada last week before Ghana’s friendly against Panama in Toronto. The reason? He faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in London, charges that date back to incidents between 2020 and 2022.
When asked by Canadian border officials whether he had ever been arrested or charged with a crime, Partey said no. He has since denied all charges and is expected to stand trial next summer, where he plans to fight to clear his name. But the legal situation has followed him across two continents.
England supporters in Boston made their feelings clear from the start. Partey was back in Ghana’s starting lineup after missing the Panama game, and the crowd let him know they hadn’t forgotten. Some of it was probably genuine anger. Some of it might have been fans feeding off the energy of a World Cup warmup between two teams with history. Either way, it was loud.
The Handshake Snub Everyone Saw
The moment with Spence didn’t take long to spread online. Fans and commentators noticed immediately that the Tottenham right-back pulled his hand away just as Partey reached out. It’s unclear if Spence planned it or reacted in the moment, but the visual was unambiguous. He didn’t want to touch him.
Partey started the game anyway and played through the hostility. He made 167 appearances for Arsenal after joining in 2020, becoming a steady presence in midfield before his move to La Liga. But his reputation in England has taken a hit that no transfer can erase.
Ghana’s coaching staff didn’t comment on the booing or the handshake after the match. England’s camp stayed quiet too. Sometimes the silence tells you everything.
Partey will get his day in court next year. Until then, every stadium he walks into is going to feel a little bit like this one did in Boston.
Leave a Comment