FA leaves England players to decide Partey handshake before Ghana match

The Football Association has not set a public policy on whether England players should shake hands with Thomas Partey before Tuesday’s World Cup match against Ghana. The decision is being left to individual players during the usual pre-match ceremony.

Partey, who previously played with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka at Arsenal, is available for the game in Boston after being granted a US visa. He missed Ghana’s opening match against Panama because Canadian authorities refused him entry for the fixture in Toronto.

The midfielder is due to stand trial next year at Southwark crown court after being charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. He denies all charges, and his legal representatives have said he wants the opportunity to clear his name.

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has argued that Partey should be treated as innocent unless proven guilty. The situation also created scrutiny around Ghana’s failed challenge to Canada’s visa refusal, after a court found Partey’s application had answered negatively to questions about prior arrests or charges.

For England, the immediate issue is not selection but protocol: whether a standard handshake should be treated as neutral routine or as a moment players may feel unable to take part in. Any draft coverage should remain cautious because the criminal proceedings are active.