The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has urged FIFA to step in to help resolve the issues regarding Black Stars deputy captain Thomas Partey’s entry into Canada for the ongoing World Cup.
Canada has denied Thomas Partey a visa for the Black Stars’ first group stage match against Panama, which is set to take place in Canada on Wednesday. The reason for this denial stems from the ongoing rape charges against Thomas, who has not yet been found guilty by the court.
The Minister stated that this issue goes beyond mere diplomatic discussions between Ghana and Canada and necessitates the proactive involvement of football’s global governing body to ensure that players are not barred from participating in tournaments organized under FIFA’s authority.
In an interview conducted on Monday, June 15, the Minister emphasized that FIFA must take a decisive position against Canada’s ruling.
“It is not solely the responsibility of the Canadian authorities to rectify this situation; FIFA itself must also take a stand. FIFA cannot ignore its role in such matters, and their involvement should not be limited to behind-the-scenes actions. They need to publicly express their opposition to this decision,” he remarked.
The Minister also mentioned the case of the United States, where Partey’s visa was initially revoked prior to the tournament but was later reinstated after officials acknowledged that the player was traveling as part of an international sporting event.
“The Americans had previously revoked his five-year visa before the tournament. However, recognizing that Thomas Partey was not traveling independently but as part of an international competition they were hosting, they reissued his visa to allow him to participate in the event,” he clarified.
He conveyed astonishment regarding Canada’s stance, contending that nations hosting global sporting events bear the duty to enable the participation of athletes representing their countries.
“It is thus surprising that Canada has opted for this course of action. This is excessive, this is unacceptable, and it must not be permitted to persist,” the Minister stated.
He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring that Thomas Partey can represent Ghana in the tournament and noted that diplomatic and other avenues are still being pursued to achieve a favorable outcome.
