Thomas Partey: Ex-Arsenal footballer pleads not guilty to rape charges – hours after playing against Spurs | UK News
Former Arsenal player Thomas Party pleaded not guilty of rape and accusations of sexual assault – hours after returning to northern London for a Champions League match with a new Villarreal.
The footballer appeared to Southwark Crown Court and only spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and his pleadings concerning three women.
He is accused of five rape charges concerning two women and an accusation of sexual assault against a third woman, between April 2021 and June 2022.
Lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously declared that Party “denies all the charges held against him”.
The alleged incidents took place while Party played in the Premier League – before its move to Spain.
His new team was in town to face Tottenham in his first European match of the season, and Party was presented from the bench with 12 minutes to do.
The match involving Ghana midfielder came less than a month after an appearance before the Westminster Court of First Instance on August 5.
Party in action for Villarreal against Tottenham Tuesday evening. Pic: Reuters
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Party, 32, was charged in July – only four days after leaving Arsenal after the expiration of his contract. He had joined the Atletico Madrid club in 2020.
Metropolitan police said that they had first received information reporting a rape allegation in February 2022.
An Arsenal spokesman previously said: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to a legal proceedings in progress, the club is unable to comment on the case.”
Why was Party playing?
Villarreal signed it last month, the midfielder having obtained a conditional deposit.
He has made a handful of appearances since then.
Party is not prevented from playing football, but must inform the police of any international trip one day in advance and must not contact the complainants.
The appearance of Partey in Tuesday evening’s match – his first on English soil since his indictment – has had no impact on the result, while Tottenham has kept a 1-0 lead at only four minutes.