Cameras avoid showing England players shaking hands with Thomas Partey amid rape charge controversy
Football fans tuning into England's clash against Ghana at the 2026 Fifa World Cup didn't get to see how the lads greeted Thomas Partey on the pitch.
Thomas Tuchel's squad were able to decide for themselves if they wanted to shake the midfielder's hand amid his controversial participation in the 2026 competition.
But viewers watching from home didn't get to see if any UK football stars snubbed the 33-year-old player, as the cameras didn't show the moment.
Those tuning into the BBC's live coverage of England's game against Ghana tonight (23 June) did not get to see how the Three Lions engaged with Partey after the national anthems were sung.
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The broadcast did not include footage of Ghana's vice captain shaking hands with any England stars, as the feed instead cut to a different angle.
Reports from inside the Boston Stadium claim that Partey was met by a chorus of boos from England fans in the stands, though.
Taking to social media to share their thoughts on the footage of Partey shaking hands not being shown, one person said: "Changing camera so they didn't have to show Partey."
Another wrote: "The camera man bottled showing the England players shake hands with Thomas Partey."
A third added: "BBC camera panned away to the fans when Partey was shaking England players hands."
However, images taken from inside the Gillette Stadium show that England aces, including captain Harry Kane, did extend their hand to Partey.
LADbible has contacted the BBC and FIFA for comment.
It was rumoured that Partey may have been positioned would be the first player in Ghana's line-up amid the chatter surrounding players potentially
This was seemingly so that his teammates could see what kind of reception he received from the Three Lions, so that they could then operate accordingly in response.
Partey, 33, was charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, which are alleged to have taken place in London between 2020 and 2022.
He denies all of the charges and is set to go on trial in the UK next year.
The former Arsenal player's inclusion in Ghana's squad for the World Cup has been a point of contention among football fans - and he was previously denied entry into Canada to play in his team's first fixture.
He was unable to play in his side's opening game, which culminated in a 1-0 victory over Panama, as he did not declare the charges he is facing on his visa application.
Ghanaian officials subsequently launched an appeal calling for a review of the matter, branding the decision to decline Partey entry as ‘high-handed and extremely unfair’.
In a statement, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited the ‘fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and the process in democratic societies’.
Reports state that Partey - who told officials in the host country that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime - was booed as his name was read out ahead of kick off this evening.
He was also jeered when he was on the ball in the opening five minutes of the game.
Olivia Burke