Djed Spence appears to refuse handshake with Thomas Partey before World Cup match
Quick Look
- Footage shows England's Djed Spence not shaking hands with Ghana's Thomas Partey before a World Cup match in Boston.
- Partey, who missed Ghana's previous game due to legal issues, was booed by England fans.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Thomas Partey missed Ghana's previous World Cup match due to legal proceedings. He faces charges of rape and sexual assault.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show England full-back Djed Spence not shaking hands with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey before their World Cup match in Boston.
Partey was booed by England fans as he made his first appearance at this year's World Cup, having missed his nation's first game at the tournament.
The 33-year-old was denied entry into Canada after telling officials he had never been arrested nor charged with a crime, and missed Ghana's 1-0 win against Panama in Toronto as a result.
Partey pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to stand trial next year.
BBC Sport understands the Football Association did not discuss the pre-match handshake with players before the match.
There were boos from the crowd at Boston Stadium as the Villarreal and former Arsenal midfielder's name was read out over the public address system before the Group L match, while his touches of the ball were regularly met with jeers.
Open Questions
- Why did Spence not shake Partey's hand?
- Was there prior communication about handshakes?
