(Courtesy: @thomaspartey5/ Instagram & Canva)
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has lost the bid for emergency relief after Canada denied him entry to play in the FIFA World Cup, although his legal team says the fight over the decision is far from over.
On Tuesday, a Federal Court judge rejected Partey’s request for emergency relief, preventing him from travelling to Toronto for Ghana’s opening tournament match against Panama.
The ruling marks the latest development in a case that has drawn international attention since Canada deemed Partey inadmissible ahead of the tournament due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
However, Partey’s lawyer says Tuesday’s decision does not end the broader legal battle.
“The motion was dismissed,” Toronto immigration lawyer Mackeda Bramwell told The Brandon Gonez Show following the ruling.
“His reconsideration and TRP is still active and pending a further determination and his Application for Leave and Judicial Review is also still pending.”
She added: “This ruling is a procedural loss on the motion, not necessarily a loss on the underlying judicial review.”
Federal Court rejects emergency request
Earlier Tuesday, Federal Court Justice Roger Lafrenière dismissed Partey’s request to temporarily override Canada’s decision and allow him to enter the country while legal proceedings continue.
The 32-year-old midfielder remains with Ghana’s World Cup squad in the United States and will miss Wednesday’s match against Panama in Toronto.
Partey is awaiting trial in England on multiple rape and sexual assault charges. He has pleaded not guilty and has repeatedly maintained his innocence.
According to the court decision, the judge found Partey had not met the threshold required for emergency relief and determined the balance of convenience favoured maintaining Canada’s immigration rules while the matter continues through other legal channels.
The judge also found immigration officials were entitled to consider the charges Partey faces abroad when assessing his admissibility to Canada.
Lawyer previously argued case was about fairness
The ruling comes a day after Bramwell sat down for an exclusive interview with The Brandon Gonez Show, where she argued Canada’s decision raised concerns about procedural fairness and due process.
At the time, Bramwell stressed the case was not about minimizing the allegations against Partey, but rather ensuring immigration authorities properly assessed all available facts before refusing entry.
She also pointed to the legal principle that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Partey’s legal team had argued that allowing him temporary entry would serve the public interest given Canada’s role as a World Cup host nation and his status as an accredited national-team athlete.
In court filings, Partey said he would remain under the supervision of Ghana Football Association officials while in Canada and depart according to FIFA tournament schedules.
What’s next?
Despite Tuesday’s setback, Partey’s legal options remain open.
According to Bramwell, his request for reconsideration and application for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) have not yet been decided. A separate judicial review process is also still before the courts.
Notably, the judge urged immigration officials to deal with Partey’s outstanding requests expeditiously.
Whether any future decision could affect the remainder of Ghana’s World Cup campaign remains unclear.
For now, though, Ghana will move forward without one of its most experienced midfielders as it prepares to face Panama at Toronto Stadium on Wednesday night.
Canada has previously said immigration decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and that hosting the FIFA World Cup does not alter the country’s immigration laws.
Despite the circumstances, some of the Ghana fanbase remains optimistic about the team’s chances of securing a victory on June 17.
“With or without Partey, we are beating Panama 2-nill tomorrow [June 17],” a Ghanaian fan told The Brandon Gonez Show
