Why Djed Spence refused Thomas Partey handshake in England-Ghana clash

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

England defender Djed Spence refused to shake hands with Ghana’s Thomas Partey during their World Cup clash in Boston as the midfielder faces multiple sexual assault charges in the UK.

England defender Djed Spence appeared to refuse a pre-match handshake with Ghana’s Thomas Partey ahead of their 2026 World Cup group stage match in Boston.

Footage on social media showed the Tottenham fullback keeping his hand inside his tracksuit pocket as Partey approached.

Spence was the only English player to actively snub the midfielder before the match, which ultimately ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

The 33-year-old Ghanaian midfielder, currently playing for Villarreal, faces criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom involving seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault from four women, which is reportedly why Spence refused his handshake approach.

Partey has strongly denied all allegations and is scheduled to stand trial next year. He was also booed heavily by England fans in Foxborough throughout the high-profile World Cup encounter.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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