ACCRA: Ghana’s government on Saturday called Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for his country’s World Cup game against Panama next week “high-handed and extremely unfair.” The West African nation’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it understood the decision to be based on pending criminal proceedings in Britain. The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who now plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain. He has denied the charges.

Thomas Partey, who used to play for Arsenal, faces several counts of rape in London.

While FIFA confirmed the visa denial, it did not immediately provide detailed reasons for the Canadian authorities’ decision.