As Arsenal confronts criticism for how it handled the rape allegations, Partey’s accusers make death threats

Women who have accused former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, a Ghanaian international, of sexual assault and rape claim they were attacked online whenever he played for the team, especially when he scored. One of the alleged victims told The Athletic that the assault became commonplace while Partey was playing. I received communications from fans on a regular basis. They would email me photos of him scoring or playing. I would receive threats of rape, death, and being set on fire. For instance, the abuse would be more severe if he scored, she said.

Following accusations from three separate women, Partey was charged last week with five charges of rape and one count of sexual assault. According to his legal representative, he has refuted every accusation and expressed gratitude for the chance “to finally clear his name.” Years of silence around the claims were followed by the charges.

The report states that one of the victims told Arsenal about the allegations in September 2021, and that Arsenal was notified once more after Partey was initially taken into custody in July 2022. The team nevertheless kept using the player during the court proceedings. Outrage has been generated by Arsenal’s actions, especially among advocacy groups. In a statement, Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence criticized the club’s approach to the issue. The organization wrote, “We are heartbroken and ashamed that our beloved club has failed, ignored, and silenced survivors.”

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was contemplating formal charges against Partey when Arsenal began negotiating a contract extension with him, according to The Athletic. Partey left the team just four days before he was formally charged, and his contract finally terminated.

One day after the allegations were made public, Partey got married in Spain. On August 5, he is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Wider discussions regarding football clubs’ obligations when dealing with severe charges against their players—especially when those accusations are made public before legal action is taken—have been spurred by the controversy. Both Arsenal and Partey continue to be closely watched by the public as the case progresses.