Thomas Partey charged with 5 counts of rape | OneFootball

Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three women, three years after his initial arrest.

Thomas Partey has finally been charged with rape. Three years after his arrest, three years in which his identity was widely known, three years in which Arsenal continued to select him, the midfielder now faces five counts of rape and one of sexual assault involving three women.

Not one. Not two.

Three.

Throughout this entire period, the club knew. They knew what he was being investigated for and they still played him. While some might try to argue that, legally, Arsenal had little choice but to continue fielding him until formal charges were brought, that line of defence collapses the moment you remember the club tried to extend his contract.

Let’s be clear – Partey is not leaving Arsenal because the club decided it was time. He’s leaving because he wanted more money and the club said no. That is the line. Not morals, not accountability, not doing the right thing. Wages.

There is no footballing explanation that justifies why Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta in particular, wanted him to stay. The only conclusion to draw is that they did not care about the nature of the allegations or what his continued presence said to women, to survivors of sexual violence, and to their own supporters.

The message was received loud and clear.

This is a stain. One that will not wash out easily. Not under this management, and not without serious reflection and change. That is not necessarily a call for Arteta to go, though it’s hard to make a case for why he should stay untouched by this.

Arsenal pride themselves on being leaders in diversity, in inclusion, in standing for more than just football. Most days, that is something to celebrate.

Today is not one of those days.