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Thomas Partey Booed on Tottenham Return Hours Before Plea Hearing in London

His plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court will test football’s stance on selecting players facing serious charges.

Overview

  • The Villarreal midfielder came on in the 78th minute against Tottenham in the Champions League and was loudly booed throughout his cameo.
  • He is due in Southwark Crown Court on 17 September to enter pleas to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents in 2021–22.
  • Partey remains on conditional bail that permits him to play and travel for work with prior notice to police and forbids contact with the complainants.
  • Villarreal and manager Marcelino have defended selecting him, citing presumption of innocence and saying he is mentally prepared to play.
  • Reaction has included hostile chants at the stadium and an online petition reported with roughly 1,100 signatures opposing his signing.