Wissam Ben Yedder, Benjamin Mendy, Mason Greenwood, Raul Asencio, Dimitri Payet. In recent years, several active footballers have been pointed out by justice, rightly or wrongly, for dark cases. For the past few weeks, it's Thomas Party's turn to face heavy accusations. On July 4, it was officially implicated by English justice. “The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man after a proof file was submitted by detectives. Metropolitan police issued an accusation and a requisition against Thomas Partey, 32 years old (06/13/1992), of Hertfordshire, in connection with the following offenses: five rape charges, a charm of sexual assault. “
An announcement that has not necessarily been a surprise since rumors have been circulating on the Ghanaian in recent years, without it being directly appointed. The facts would have been committed between 2021 and 2022 and would concern three women. This week, the midfielder introduced himself to the court, he who denies the facts allegedly against him. Presumed innocent, he was released on bail on Tuesday. But he must respect certain rules according to Sky Sports. Thus, he is forbidden to contact the women involved in this case. He must also inform the police of his address changes and notify the authorities of any trip abroad. What he certainly had to do since he will join Villarreal.
Party has a dark case on the back
For several days, the Spanish training has been trying to recruit the player, free since the end of his lease in Arsenal. The Athletic Announced this Thursday that it got along with the yellow submarine around a two-year lease. But his arrival, against a controversy, makes teeth cringe. This week, before the deal is completed, Marca explained: “Thomas Parte's signature divides the supporters of the Yellows. A large part of the supporters of Villarreal are indignant by its possible arrival in the team (…) never a signature had aroused as many reactions to Villarreal as those aroused in recent hours by the announcement of the possible arrival of Thomas Partey. The negative reactions of a large part of the yellow supporters were not long in coming. ”
Iberian publication added: “But, whatever the sporting contribution of the arrival of a player who was an undeniable success for the Gunners last season, social networks have become the place privileged by a large majority of yellow supporters to express their indignation in the face of the possibility that Party has the yellow jersey. Under the hashtag #NoAthomaspartey, they have expressed this unanswered, even flooding the different announcements of the club in recent days, thus expressing their disappointment (…) many supporters urge managers to wait for a court decision before deciding. “ Same bell sound in the columns of the Spanish version of 20 minutes.
Supporters are against his arrival in Villarreal
“Thomas Partey, accused of rape, triggers an earthquake in Villarreal: the club continues with the idea of signing it and the supporters oppose it (…) Villarreal aims to add Thomas Parte, a former Arsenal player and Atletico Madrid who is accused of five leaders of rape and a chief of sexual assault. The footballer was released on Tuesday waiting for his trial and the club maintains the idea of signing him if he is not found guilty. A decision that caused an earthquake in the entity due to the opposition of its supporters. ” Some of them have also decided to be heard by signing a petition against his coming. Nearly 800 signatures have already been recorded on the Villarreal Report site.
Fans believe that this transfer ensures that the “The darkest day in the history of the club is fast approaching” Because his signature is “An act of betrayal of the greatest importance.” Others have spoke publicly, such as César Márquez Trabado, president of the club of supporters Peña Amarilla Villafranca de Los Barros. “I am against this recruitment. It is true that he would integrate perfectly into Villarreal because he is a player of exceptional quality, but I think there are ethical limits not to be crossed, even if the player was not condemned for the facts that are criticized for him (…) I would say that 90 % of the supporters are against. Because in the end, the team can progress in the short term. But in the long term, it will harm our image a lot. ”
His case divides
An opinion which is shared by José ángel Arnau, spokesperson for the agrupación de Peñas, interviewed in the program El Partidazo on the Cadena Cope. “There is a division of opinions. I think that people 'opinion prevails, with a considerable margin, and they don't like that at all. They don't want a person who arrives with these accusations on their backs. They have the impression that he tarnishes the image of the club (…) How will fans act? I can imagine that the opponents, when it touches the ball, begin to whistle it, as has already happened in other Premier League teams or with the case of Greenwood. ” But according to him, not all supporters reject this signature. On the contrary, some were for his arrival in the Villarreal jersey this summer 2025.
“There is a part (fans, note) which evokes the principle of the presumption of innocence and does not give importance to everything that is happening. In fact, they are satisfied with what Thomas can offer on the sporting level (…) on the sporting level, it is a signature that has the effect of a bomb. He can improve the team impressively. But I think of everything that revolves around the image of Thomas and, honestly, I would not get involved. There are many players on the market, and others always appear. Currently, I think that public opinion is 70% against, and 30% for. ” Among these 30%, there are Borja Jiménez Ortega, president of the Bone Groc supporters club in Madrid “It's a great recruit, it's great for the team. I have great confidence in the club. It is a notice widely shared by the 60 members of his group of supporters. There are only two or three who do not want it ”he said in remarks relayed by Ouest-France. The transfer of Thomas Partey, who has to face justice, is already a scandal in Spain.
