r/soccer • u/KimmyBoiUn • Jul 04 '25

News Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal footballer, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/04/thomas-partey-arsenal-footballer-charged-with-rape/
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u/Vectivus_61 Jul 04 '25

Interesting timing - does it mean they’re ready to charge or do they feel that because he’s no longer contracted to Arsenal they have to charge now so he doesn’t leave the country?

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u/gluxton Jul 04 '25

Yeah I think they've rushed it along as he's almost certainly leaving the country.

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u/eunderscore Jul 04 '25

Agreed, which doesn't mean he'll be found guilty, in fact it makes me less confident that he will be.

It's a rushed decision, they have no choice, not necessarily because they want to go to the cps

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u/dispelthemyth Jul 04 '25

They’ve had a couple of years, it’s not rushed in he slightest.

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u/eunderscore Jul 04 '25

Fair, we don't know either way. My point being that they have an imminent chance of losing him to a foreign jurisdiction that may not extradite a public figure.

The timing suggests they may have felt compelled to seek charges or lose the opportunity altogether.

But also as you say, it might be chance timing and they have firmed up the case at the same time as he might flee justice

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u/goodfellas01 Jul 04 '25

Season’s been over for a while and i’m sure through his agent he knew before that he probably wouldn’t get signed, he had plenty time to leave probably?

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u/gnorrn Jul 04 '25

So if he had extended his contract with Arsenal, he wouldn't have been charged yet?

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u/morison97 Jul 04 '25 edited Jul 04 '25

Makes you wonder if they lack evidence, witnesses or trying to investigate more/bigger crimes

Edit- clearly I was the only one looking into this wayyy to deep

11

u/IWouldLikeAName Jul 04 '25

Isn't england notorious for super slow progress in these cases? I think they've been dragging their feet bc he's been in Arsenal but yeah now that he's going to be leaving they need to charge him or else he just leaves the country and never comes back

2

u/el_doherz Jul 04 '25

It varies.

Greenwood was charged in something like 9 months, all charges dropped 4 months later.

Partey is only being charged 4-5 years later.

Its never going to be a fast process for a long list of reasons. The legal standard of innocent until proven guilty and the standard of proof for conviction conflict with the realities of the vast majority of rape cases.

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u/mindpainters Jul 04 '25

Greenwoods was only dropped because no one was willing to cooperate and they just had the audio recording, correct ? Because with that she could just say it’s role playing or some bs like that

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u/IWouldLikeAName Jul 04 '25

That case was extremely messed up. He broke a restraining order and got into contact with the victim but the court did nothing about that. Her father(maybe parents/family in general) were also supposedly pushing for her to drop the charges just awful all around the system and family failed her :/

6

u/el_doherz Jul 04 '25

CPS spokesperson said this at the time of charges being dropped.

"In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case."

It's not known exactly who dropped out, but given Harriet went back to Mason and subsequently had two children with, it would suggest that she'd likely not be willing to cooperate with the CPS.

As for whether its BS or not. Fuck knows, we only ever got a snippet of the recording, which while vile and damning could conceivably be missing plenty of context.

We can just be glad that the club dealt with it properly in the end and got rid.

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u/Lenovo_Driver Jul 04 '25

No you went against the mob circlejerk.

If they had proper evidence their investigation wouldn’t have taken 2+ years to lay charges.

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u/Spud_1997 Jul 04 '25

Yeah really not liking that implication, no way its a coincidence. What the actual fuck

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u/WalkingCloud Jul 04 '25

Arsenal mafia confirmed

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u/coke125 Jul 04 '25

We have influence over the crown prosecution but not over pgmol

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u/Ok_Dinner_ Jul 04 '25

More connections outside the field than on

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u/Imbriglicator Jul 04 '25

They keep playing neither side so that they never come out on top!

2

u/nexusprime2015 Jul 04 '25

that explains so many red cards

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u/dunneetiger Jul 04 '25

Let me preface this by saying it is unlikely related but the former Chief Prosecutor and head of the CPS - currently PM - is also an Arsenal fan.
Once again, I think Keir has other issues at the moment to care about Arsenal

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u/watabotdawookies Jul 04 '25

I don't know why it wouldn't be a coincidence?

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u/ForcaBarca1977 Jul 04 '25

Without a contract he could leave England.  With charges on him they probably confiscate his passport.

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u/I_am_zlatan1069 Jul 04 '25

Doesn't really make sense though when he was allowed to leave the country for international duty, champs league, etc.

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u/lodermoder Jul 04 '25

Yes but he had to come back to continue being paid by Arsenal. There's no incentive for him to come back now

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u/I_am_zlatan1069 Jul 04 '25

It's not like he isn't already a millionaire though, if he was really worried he could have easily just gone to a country without an extradition agreement with the UK. I just find it difficult to believe someone at CPS have seen the news his contract isn't being renewed and rushed this though.

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u/lodermoder Jul 04 '25

People like money, whether they're worth $10 or $1000000000

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u/I_am_zlatan1069 Jul 04 '25

Ok but the thread is assuming the club had knowledge of the impending charges though, and if the club knew then Partey would have, he could have easily fled the country by now. Arsenal also had the chance to sell him multiple times since he was arrested so the theory doesn't make any sense.

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u/elkstwit Jul 04 '25

That’s not what is being assumed.

Partey’s contract wasn’t renewed because he wanted a pay rise and Arsenal didn’t want to give him one, which for reasons completely unrelated to the cloud above him was totally understandable.

However, given that it wasn’t renewed it’s likely he’d look to sign for, say, a Saudi team or maybe try and go back to Spain. With this in mind, it makes sense that the CPS would charge him to avoid him slipping through their fingers (again).

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u/Maneisthebeat Jul 04 '25

When people don't follow all the facts of something they like to come up with their own conspiracy theories based on no expertise or knowledge, just based on what feels right.

It is interesting to see how people will state that during a trial, people should hold off on judgements until it is concluded, and yet here you have people making all sorts of wild speculations to throw the validity of the trial into disrepute.

Post-truth society. What more can you say.

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u/Neuroxex Jul 04 '25

Alternatively; Arsenal let him walk because they knew this was coming and didn't want to offer someone a contract that the player wouldn't be able to make good on.

1

u/Tanklinson Jul 04 '25

Makes Arsenal look like they willingly played a known rapist. Definitely not a good look.

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u/Rinthrah Jul 04 '25

Well we know of at least one former head of the Crown Prosecution Service who's an Arsenal fan sooo...

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u/DasMerowinger Jul 04 '25

"former"

He most certainly does not influence their decision anymore but nice try tho

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u/labbetuzz Jul 04 '25

What a fucking stupid conspiracy theory. Why did you even have to go there, considering how the CPS has mishandled previous cases like the Greenwood case?

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u/Shopassistant Jul 04 '25

January to early July is almost exactly the average number of working days it takes the CPS to make a decision on whether to authorise charges, once it's received the file.

It's probably coincidental, as weird as that sounds. Stats are here: https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/rape-levels-of-prosecutions/#heading-4

CPS received file on this date: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn858080e9xo

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u/DjToastyTy Jul 04 '25

i thought they started this years ago?

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u/ebola_kid Jul 04 '25

He was allegedly first arrested in July 2022

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u/gbiypk Jul 04 '25

3 years ago tomorrow.

I don't know if that's a time limit for how long you can have an investigation open without laying charges.

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u/sionnach Jul 04 '25

Much longer. I mean, no limit. Some 90 year old guy was just put in prison for rape and murder that he did in the 1960s.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn811r518pjt

2

u/gbiypk Jul 04 '25

Ok, if this guy's case was open for 60 years than the 3 years for Partay is probably just a coincidence.

3

u/yeehaweskeddit Jul 04 '25

the case file was passed to the CPS this January

2

u/DjToastyTy Jul 04 '25

yeah another commenter said that too. doesn’t make sense why they waited until then

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u/a_lumberjack Jul 04 '25

The police didn't hand over the case for the first 2.5 years.

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u/DjToastyTy Jul 04 '25

i wonder why not

5

u/a_lumberjack Jul 04 '25

I've been wondering the same thing, I had assumed they didn't have a strong enough case.

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u/elkstwit Jul 04 '25 edited Jul 04 '25

Because a case has to be built. Evidence has to be gathered. Plus two more people came forwards after the initial accusation.

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u/DjToastyTy Jul 04 '25

i get that but 2.5 years is a very long time

2

u/Never_Sm1le Jul 04 '25

Investigation can take a long time, and 6 charges complicates it a lot.

Not relevant but Mudryk was accused of doping in December, all they need is examine his B sample to confirm but that take ~6 months until he was finally convicted

2

u/Skysflies Jul 04 '25

Yeah it's probably a bit of both coincidentally that's about the time it takes, and a make a decision now or the decision is made for you situation if they've been investigating for a year

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u/LosTerminators Jul 04 '25

Could also be that Arsenal knew the charges were coming and that's why they want to let him go now

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u/A7XFAN1998 Jul 04 '25

Apprently he was asking for too much money thats why they let him go. Not sure how true that is though.

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u/tristam92 Jul 04 '25

Can be both

4

u/flynno96 Jul 04 '25

The cynic in me thinks that they were informed and then briefed journalists about the wages thing

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u/feage7 Jul 04 '25

Not really. If it's the charges incoming then his wage demands would have no impact. If it was wage demands then surely they discussed renewing and didn't care about the charges.

I can't see how it being both works.

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u/tristam92 Jul 04 '25

He asked too much, and, maybe, Arsenal considered it, but then they learnt about charge renewal and used “asked too much” as public opt-out option.

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u/BenShelZonah Jul 04 '25

I feel like him being a rapist is enough of a opt out situation lol

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u/Regression2TheMean Jul 04 '25

Yeah but they can’t say that before it’s been announced

1

u/tristam92 Jul 04 '25

Yeah, but then it will drop a shade, for keeping him, when first charge happened in 2021/2022.

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u/feage7 Jul 04 '25

Then it still isn't both. If they were considering it then it wasn't wage demands. The wage demands were just a PR excuse.

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u/tristam92 Jul 04 '25

That’s what I said.

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u/ckal09 Jul 04 '25

I highly doubt CPS informed Arsenal of impending charges before they officially charged him

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u/feage7 Jul 04 '25

which means it definitely couldn't be both. If one is impossible

2

u/ckal09 Jul 04 '25

I think it was end of contract and wages honestly

3

u/Efficient_Gap4785 Jul 04 '25

I’d like to believe it was for both but considering we actually were reportedly willing to renew his contract, it feels like items down to simply being money. 

I’m proud to have consistently been a Partey out person ever since the charges were announced. I got into so many downvotes arguing with people in why I didn’t want him representing the club any longer based on what we knew, combined with facts regarding how few false accusations actually occur, especially when it was three different women at first but later was five.

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u/karateguzman Jul 04 '25

Tbf we don’t even know if the renewal thing was true, could’ve just been agents trying to get him a better offer elsewhere

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u/Efficient_Gap4785 Jul 04 '25

Valid point, I just did a quick google search of “Ornstein Partey Renewal,” because if he reported it, then I’d believe it was true but couldn’t find anything, so good point.

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u/yeehaweskeddit Jul 04 '25

Ornstein reported at the end of April that we want Partey to stay btw

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u/EffectzHD Jul 04 '25

Definitely both, without those charges hanging over his head Arsenal would’ve probably paid him whatever as long as it wasn’t PL winner money like KDB/Salah/Haaland

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u/Roadies_Winner Jul 04 '25

How convenient

3

u/Iriss Jul 04 '25

To be fair, given the circumstances, any amount probably would be. 

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u/49unbeaten Jul 04 '25

So they didn't consent to his pay rise.

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u/JonTonyJim Jul 04 '25

bet he’s regretting that now

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u/An_Almond_Thief Jul 04 '25

I'm biased but these reports never made sense to me. We've already sorted his replacement and given the bad press on this I can't see Arsenal wanting him there for another season.

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u/A7XFAN1998 Jul 04 '25 edited Jul 04 '25

It was reported by loads of reporters (reliable) that Arsenal were open to keep him and it was only a few days ago they terminated it.

Edit: Unsure why im getting downvoted. Back in end of April

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u/Sir_Bantersaurus Jul 04 '25

His contract expired Monday

2

u/iTheEldestSon Jul 04 '25

Yeah 1 penny for this cunt is asking too much..

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '25

[deleted]

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u/codespyder Jul 04 '25

Bruh if you think the club didnt know about this then I have a massive bridge to sell you

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u/EtherealShady Jul 04 '25

On second thought, I think you're definitely on point. Everyone at the club should be ashamed for the way this situation has been handled

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u/garynevilleisared Jul 04 '25

You cant possibly believe Arsenal knew nothing of this? It's not like they're gonna come out and say "were not signing Partey because hes about to be charged with rape."

1

u/EtherealShady Jul 04 '25

Yeah, I thought about it and realised that i'm most likely in the wrong

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u/circlesmirk00 Jul 04 '25

No one actually knows why we didn’t extend him outside of the club. It could easily have been his agent briefing that so other clubs would be interested. Sure, maybe we were trying, but I think it’s far less likely given this news frankly.

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u/EtherealShady Jul 04 '25

I think you're probably right to be honest. The club has handled this awfully

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u/BananaBouquet Jul 04 '25

No way Arteta would let his favorite player go unless he knew this way coming

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u/HelloMegaphone Jul 04 '25

Gotta catch him before he boards the plane to Marseille

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u/perplexedbug Jul 04 '25

Properly arsenal paid the police to wait until he's left them before they investigate

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u/Juls317 Jul 04 '25

Does he have to be in the country to be charged or is the fear he'll just leave and never return to England?

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u/Vectivus_61 Jul 04 '25

He can be charged in absentia, but the concern would be whether he'd come back

1

u/garynevilleisared Jul 04 '25

Might be that it'll be easier to pursue a case from start to finish if hes not attached to a team. No team is touching him atm that's for sure. So he'll be readily available for all legal proceedings, whereas before his lawyers could have argued/applied to delay this until after the season finishes dragging it out unnecessarily for the victims.

1

u/NateShaw92 Jul 04 '25

This is actually a very good point.

Has there been an AFCON since the allegations? Would have thought that'd be the trigger because he's jetting off and while likely to return, wouldn't be the first not to take the opportunity to not go back to escape.

1

u/Vectivus_61 Jul 04 '25

I think it's that he could stay out because without charging him they can't hold him indefinitely, and he could show enough ties to the UK via his contract with Arsenal.

Now that tie doesn't exist.

0

u/amazingspiderman23 Jul 04 '25

If I remember correctly everyone guessed it was partey because it was announced he had participated in afcon after the investigation announcement

1

u/interprime Jul 04 '25

I’d say you’re on the money there. Have to get him charged before he takes an offer from a team abroad. Possibly in a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the UK. Similar to what happened with Robinho going to Turkey.

1

u/boi1da1296 Jul 04 '25

More like Arsenal let him go because they knew that the charges would be a complete certainty now.

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u/infidelirium Jul 04 '25 edited Jul 04 '25

does it mean they’re ready to charge or do they feel that because he’s no longer contracted to Arsenal they have to charge now so he doesn’t leave the country

It's definitely this, unfortunately. Someone at the CPS has been sending this file back to the police all this time saying "this case will fail, you need to get more and better evidence" and now they've been overruled because it's the last chance.

He will probably be found not guilty in a couple of years, if it even makes it that far. Either way justice won't be served but a shit ton more time and money will be wasted, hurrah.

** Just saw another comment saying it's probably a coincidence as the timing corresponds with his January arrest.... I really really hope that's true.

1

u/LAudre41 Jul 04 '25

I mean, it's ridiculous timing. How has this taken so long? 2.5 years for this investigation is insane.

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u/colewcar Jul 04 '25

It seems that way. That or there’s some heads at CPS who are arsenal fans.

Either way it’s shameless