France, June 13 -- Partey, 32, who plays for the Spanish side Villareal, faces seven charges of rape and an accusation of sexual assault by four different women between 2020 and 2022 in Britain. He has denied the charges.

On Friday, it emerged that the former Arsenal player had been refused permission to travel from the Ghana base just outside Boston to Canada with the rest of the squad.

Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's foreign minister, described Canada's treament of Partey as high-handed.

"Ghana has dispatched an official note of protest," he added. He said the Canadian government had been asked to review its decision. Respect for Canada's sovereign right'

"While respecting Canada's sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, Ghan...