Restorative justice is ‘not feasible' in rape case of Spanish tourist, court hears
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Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Villarreal fans decry Thomas Partey's proposed signing as club's 'darkest day'
News that the former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is poised to join Villarreal has roiled fans of the Spanish club, with hundreds signing a petition urging the club to halt what has been described as the 'darkest day in the club's history'. Partey appeared in a London court on Tuesday, charged with five counts of rape relating to two women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences are said to have taken place in 2021 and 2022 when Partey was playing for Arsenal. Partey's lawyer has said he denies all the charges. Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday, and the chief magistrate told the court he understood that the 32-year-old would soon be moving to Spain. Villarreal have agreed to sign the Ghana international on a one-year contract with an option to extend by 12 months. The news came as a shock to Villarreal fans, said Rahul Lakhani, a football journalist and La Liga expert behind the La Liga London account. 'It's rocked the community,' Lakhani said. 'I've had people in my social media responding quite aggressively to me, saying he's innocent until he's proven guilty. But the overarching reaction is that Villarreal fans don't want their names associated with him.' Scores of fans have voiced their opposition to the move on social media, using a hashtag that translates as No to Thomas Partey. Others have passed around contact details for the club's official channels, urging people to complain. As Arsenal gear up to host Villarreal in a friendly on Wednesday, Lakhani described Partey's potential signing as a 'stain' on Villarreal, a club long deeply intertwined with its home town of 50,000 people. 'They're seen as someone who isn't like Real Madrid or Barcelona, or the Big Six,' he said. 'They're the antithesis of that – they're a club that has helped their community a lot, they're seen as a family-run club.' Partey's arrival would probably alter this image, he said: 'Their name is now going to be associated with wanting to sign someone who has five [rape] charges over his head, rather than being known as a club that plays good football or punches above their weight.' More than 800 people have signed a petition that describes the move as a 'slap in the face' to the club's supporters and 'all victims of sexual abuse worldwide'. People from Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence outside the Court. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire The petition was launched by the online content hub Villarreal Report, which this week said the signing would be 'an act of pure betrayal of the highest order' against the club's supporters and Villarreal's values. 'The darkest day in the club's history is drawing closer by the second,' it said on social media. Villarreal did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier this year, as Partey's contract with Arsenal neared its expiry date, the north London club confirmed they were in talks over a new contract. After they failed to agree a new deal, it emerged that Partey, who has played for Atlético Madrid, Mallorca and Almería, was instead heading to Spain. He was charged days after he left Arsenal, after an investigation that began in 2022. Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, has previously said he 'denies all the charges against him' and that he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. Some Villarreal fans have embraced the prospective signing, hinting at the deep divisions sown by Partey's expected arrival. 'For Villarreal it's a top signing, I think it's great for the team,' said Borja Jiménez Ortega, who heads the L'Os Groc supporters' club in Madrid. 'I have a lot of confidence in the club.' The view was widely shared among the 60 members of his fans group, he said. 'There's just two or three who don't want him.' Others pointed to the wider message being sent by the club. 'I'm against this signing,' said César Márquez Trabado, the president of the supporters' club Peña Amarilla Villafranca de los Barros. 'It's true that he would fit in very well at Villarreal because he's a player of tremendous quality, but I believe that there are ethical limits that should not be crossed, even if the player has not been convicted of the charges against him.' It was a view shared by many, he said. 'I would say that 90% of fans are against this,' he said. 'Because in the end, the team may improve in the short term. But in the long term, this will do a lot of damage to our image.' — The Guardian
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey clear to make his move to Villareal after being granted conditional bail
The former Arsenal midfielder appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey spoke to confirm his name and confirmed he understood his bail conditions, which state he must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. The 32-year-old is in advanced talks to sign for Villarreal after leaving Arsenal at the end of his contract this summer. He has undergone a medical and is now expected to sign a one-year contract with the option of a further year. Villarreal face Arsenal in a pre-season friendly at Emirates Stadium today. The Ghanaian midfielder, 32, has been charged with five counts of rape against two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer, who gave his address as Potters Bar, showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. The alleged offences include incidents of anal rape, the court heard. His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. It comes amid reports that Partey is set to join Spanish club Villarreal. As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I understand he's no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.' Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June. A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said they were 'profoundly disappointed' in the north London club for their handling of the matter. Speaking outside court, Honor Barber said: 'We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence. 'We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.' Members of the group held a banner which read 'Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing' then did nothing'. Barber said the group wanted Arsenal to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'. London's Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45m. The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances, as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes. He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals. Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.'
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey appears in court charged with five counts of rape
The Ghanaian midfielder, 32, has been charged with five counts of rape against two women, as well as a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player. Partey stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper. The footballer, who gave his address as Potters Bar, showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas. The alleged offences include incidents of anal rape, the court heard. His bail conditions include that he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. It comes amid reports that Partey is set to join Spanish club Villarreal. As bail conditions were discussed in court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'I understand he's no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.' Partey is due to appear at the Old Bailey on September 2. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June A spokeswoman for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said they were 'profoundly disappointed' in the north London club for their handling of the matter. Speaking outside court, Honor Barbersaid: 'We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence. 'We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue, and we did that because we want to support our club and feel happy and comfortable supporting our club.' Members of the group held a banner which read 'Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing' then did nothing'. Barber said the group wanted Arsenal to publish their sexual violence policies, 'suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences' and 'properly support the survivors'. London's Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding he welcomed 'the opportunity to finally clear his name'. He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45m. The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances, as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes. He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals. Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: 'The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case.'
