England Defender Djed Spence Appears to Ignore Thomas Partey Handshake Before World Cup Match
England defender Djed Spence appeared to ignore Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey during the pre‑match handshakes ahead of the World Cup Group L encounter between England and Ghana.
Television footage showed Spence, 25, looking straight ahead and keeping his hands by his side as Partey walked past the England line before kick‑off, while the Ghana international exchanged handshakes with the rest of the England players.
Partey faces serious legal allegations in the United Kingdom, having been charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, which he denies, and is expected to stand trial next year.
He was initially barred from entering Canada for Ghana’s opening match against Panama but was later cleared to enter the United States and started against England.
After the match, England manager Thomas Tuchel was prevented from commenting on the handshake incident during his post‑match press conference, as the team’s communications cited legal considerations.
The Football Association and Tuchel had previously instructed players to focus on football and avoid discussing politically sensitive topics during the tournament, leaving each player to decide individually whether to shake Partey’s hand.
Among those making their own choice were former Arsenal teammates Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in a £45 million move in 2020, remained with the club until his contract expired in 2025, and now plays for La Liga side Villarreal.
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