*’Arsenal Faces Backlash Over Handling Of Rape Allegations
*Brushing Aside Crisis, Footballer Marries
Women who have accused Ghanaian international and former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey of rape and sexual assault say they were subjected to vicious online abuse every time he featured for the club, particularly when he scored.
In a report by The Athletic , one of the alleged victims said the abuse became routine during Partey’s time on the pitch.
“I would frequently get messages from fans. They’d send me pictures of him playing or scoring… I would get death threats, rape threats, people saying they’d set me on fire. If he scored, for example, the abuse would be worse,” she said.
Partey was charged last week with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, stemming from complaints filed by three different women.
He has denied all allegations through his legal counsel, who has stated the player welcomes the opportunity “to finally clear his name.”
The charges follow years of silence around the allegations.
According to the report, Arsenal were informed by one of the victims about the claims in September 2021 and were again made aware when Partey was first arrested in July 2022. Despite this, the club continued to play the midfielder throughout the legal process.
Arsenal’s conduct has sparked outrage, particularly among advocacy groups. Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence released a statement criticising the club’s handling of the matter.
“We are devastated and ashamed that our beloved club has ignored, failed and silenced survivors,” the group said.
The Athletic also reported that Arsenal entered into contract extension discussions with Partey even as the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was considering formal charges against him.
Partey’s contract eventually expired, and he departed the club just four days before he was officially charged.
Partey has since married in Spain, one day after the charges were announced. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5.
The controversy has prompted wider conversations about the responsibilities of football clubs when handling serious allegations against their players, particularly when such accusations become known before legal proceedings begin. As the case develops, both Arsenal and Partey remain under intense public scrutiny.
