Ghana headed to a Canadian federal court on Tuesday in a bid to overturn Ottawa’s refusal to grant a World Cup visa to midfielder Thomas Partey.
The legal challenge comes as Ghana races against time to secure Partey’s participation in a crucial match against Panama on Wednesday in Toronto.
According to Canada’s public broadcaster CBC, Ghana sought an injunction that could allow the player to enter the country and join the national team.
The dispute has stirred diplomatic tensions, with Ghana describing Canada’s decision as unfair and damaging to its World Cup campaign.
Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa criticised the move as “high-handed and extremely unfair”, stressing that Partey remains a key figure in Ghana’s senior national squad.
Accra has also lodged an official protest with Ottawa and formally requested a review of the visa decision.
Canada’s foreign ministry had not publicly responded to Ghana’s protest as of Tuesday.
The case places sport, diplomacy and legal scrutiny on a collision course beneath football’s brightest stage.
Partey, currently a midfielder for Villarreal and formerly of Arsenal, is awaiting trial in Britain on serious criminal charges.
He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.
The Canadian court’s ruling could determine whether one of Ghana’s most influential players takes part in the tournament or watches from afar.
As the World Cup spotlight intensifies, the outcome may resonate beyond the pitch, testing the balance between sporting ambitions and legal considerations.