Carlos Queiroz defends Thomas Partey inclusion for Wales friendly
Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz has defended his decision to select Thomas Partey for Tuesday’s World Cup warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff, despite the midfielder facing ongoing allegations of rape and sexual assault.
The former Arsenal player, who now represents Villarreal in Spain, has been charged with seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault relating to incidents in London between 2020 and 2022.
He vehemently denies all accusations levelled against him.
A trial date is currently set for November this year, though legal proceedings could potentially face delays until 2027.
Despite the severe backdrop to his career, the 32-year-old was named in a provisional 28-man squad for the upcoming global tournament.
Tuesday’s fixture means he could feature on United Kingdom soil for the first time since a court appearance last September.
Presumption of innocence
The 73-year-old head coach justified the controversial call-up by insisting on fundamental legal rights.
“As far as I know, in England, in Portugal, whatever, we are living in this world, until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases,” Queiroz stated.
The former Manchester United assistant manager also criticised the modern landscape of rapid public judgment.
“Very unfortunately the way the social media and the media sometimes act with full and total impunity, we are condemned even before we have the opportunity to defend.”
He urged patience, insisting that the natural judicial process must be allowed to conclude before definitive conclusions are drawn.
Historic test against Wales
The match in the Welsh capital carries significant historical weight, marking the 150th anniversary of the Football Association of Wales.
It will also be the first occasion the Dragons have hosted an African nation on home turf.
For the Black Stars, the test provides crucial preparation before they face Thomas Tuchel’s England in their World Cup group stage clash in Boston on 23 June.
The travelling squad boasts several familiar faces from English football, including Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, Coventry’s Brandon Thomas-Asante and Leicester’s Jordan Ayew.
“Everything has gone according to our goals and we are ready for take-off and to go to the World Cup,” added the veteran manager.
The experienced tactician, who was appointed in April and previously led Iran on the global stage, expressed total confidence in his team’s readiness ahead of the tournament.