Jed Spence, Tottenham Hotspur and England defender, did not shake hands with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey during the pre-match ceremony before their World Cup Group L match on June 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Social media footage showed Spence appearing to snub Partey, while all other England players followed FIFA protocols and exchanged handshakes with Ghana's team.
Partey, 33, denies seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women between 2020 and 2022. He faces trial next year and currently plays for Villarreal. He was previously denied entry to Canada for Ghana's opening World Cup match but secured a US visa for the England fixture.
The FA provided no specific guidance to England players regarding the pre-match handshake ceremony with Partey. Spence's refusal represents a personal stance and departure from standard match protocol observed by his teammates.
Team cohesion and player motivation metrics may shift if squad friction exists. Betting markets sensitive to internal dynamics could see subtle movement in team performance lines and player-focused props if the gesture signals deeper concerns within England's camp.
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