A Canadian Federal Court has dismissed Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey’s emergency application to overturn a visa refusal, dealing a significant blow to his hopes of representing Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a ruling issued on Tuesday, Justice Roger R. Lafrenière declined to expedite the case or order immigration authorities to immediately reconsider their decision before Ghana’s crucial group-stage matches.
Key reasons for the dismissal
The court found that Partey failed to establish a “serious issue” with the original visa refusal and did not meet the high legal threshold required for extraordinary relief.
Canadian authorities had deemed Partey inadmissible under Section 36(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This section allows officials to deny entry to foreign nationals if there are reasonable grounds to believe they have committed acts that would constitute serious criminal offences in Canada — even in the absence of a conviction.
Justice Lafrenière noted that Partey had been put on notice regarding concerns stemming from multiple rape and sexual assault charges he faces in the United Kingdom, but failed to adequately address those issues during his visa application process.
“The fact that the Applicant has not been convicted… is irrelevant to the analysis under paragraph 36(1)(c) of the IRPA,” the judge wrote.
The court further determined that the reputational and practical harm currently suffered by Partey flows primarily from the ongoing UK criminal proceedings rather than Canada’s immigration decision.
Outstanding Applications and World Cup Implications
While the urgent application was rejected, Justice Lafrenière acknowledged that Partey has separate requests for reconsideration and a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) still pending. The judge urged immigration authorities to prioritize decisions on these applications due to the time-sensitive nature of the World Cup.
As it stands, the ruling leaves Partey unable to enter Canada for Ghana’s remaining matches unless one of the outstanding applications is approved in his favor.
Background
Partey, 32, strongly denied all allegations made against him in the United Kingdom. The criminal proceedings there are ongoing, and he has not been convicted of any offence.
The midfielder has been a key player for both Arsenal and the Ghana national team. His potential absence would represent a major setback for the Black Stars as they compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This case highlights the strict application of Canada’s immigration rules regarding individuals facing serious criminal allegations abroad, even when no conviction has been secured.
