New Delhi: Shortly after the FIFA World Cup 2026 opened, two players have drawn widespread attention, and not the good kind. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey and Japan’s defensive midfielder Kaishu Sano, both accused of sexual assault, face different fates in the tournament.
While the Japanese player—who was implicated in a gang rape case—remains on the roster, Partey has been denied a Canadian visa due to rape allegations and won’t play in the team’s first match in Toronto. The latter remains eligible to play in Ghana’s next two matches in the United States.
Partey has separately been awaiting trial on five counts of rape related to two women and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman, South China Morning Post reported. The offences were allegedly committed during his time playing for Arsenal from 2020 to 2025. After these charges were publicised, a fourth woman alleged that Partey raped her twice on the same day in December 2020.
The midfielder pleaded not guilty to the previous charges and intends to plead the same to the new ones.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticised the visa denial as a “high-handed and extremely unfair decision”. Partey’s teammate Kwasi Sibo has expressed support for him.
“As a team, as a family, we are going to give everything for him to be happy and be proud of us,” Sibo said.
La selección nacional de fútbol de Japón, que actualmente entrena en México, cuenta con Kaishu Sano, un hombre arrestado por violación.
Esta es una foto de Sano. Se insta a las mujeres locales a estar alerta ante posibles violaciones#futbol #fifaworldcup #mundial2026 #mexico pic.twitter.com/xYhnwkdO6V
— MOMA (@msnNightingale) June 4, 2026
Kaishu Sano’s ‘personal mistake’
According to Japanese media reports, Sano gang-raped a woman with two friends at a hotel in Tokyo on 14 July 2024. The survivor contacted the police immediately after the incident, leading to the arrest of Sano and his accomplices.
While Sano pleaded not guilty during interrogation, his legal team reached a settlement with the survivor through substantial private compensation. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office dropped the charges thereafter.
The Japan Football Association categorised the incident as a “personal mistake”. However, Sano’s continued presence on Japan’s national team has been a source of public outrage. Several posts on X ask women attending the World Cup to be wary. Many add Sano’s photo along with the posts.
Sports journalist Leyla Hamed has called for greater scrutiny of Sano’s case.
If Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada over the rape and sexual assault charges he faces, I really hope the same level of scrutiny is applied consistently. Kaishu Sano’s case should not just disappear from the conversation because it is less convenient for football. pic.twitter.com/cRIFWntzTh
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) June 12, 2026
Also read: Luka Modric wears unique jersey at the FIFA World Cup. Only Lionel Messi gets the same kit
Thank you for reporting on this issue.
As a Japanese male football fan, I have been deeply disturbed by the fact that a player involved in such a serious sexual assault case was selected to represent our national team, while the Japanese public was given little explanation and the matter was quietly treated as if it had already been resolved.
I sincerely appreciate that your publication has brought this issue to light.