EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal star Thomas Partey scored for his club in their huge win over bitter rivals Tottenham in the English Premier League last weekend. Yet his continuing presence in the squad casts a shadow on ethics in the football world with the midfielder remaining at the centre of a criminal investigation into the alleged rape of two women. Serkan Ozturk reports.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has had his bail extended as UK Police continue to investigate alleged multiple rape offences committed against two women.
The footballer was originally arrested on July 4, when police raided his home in the north London suburb of Barnet. He was then given bail until August with that condition then extended until early October.
It now transpires that Partey has once again been given bail until a future date.
“The man was bailed until a date in early October but his bail has since been extended further – an exact date has yet to be confirmed,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.
A magistrates court is likely to approve the extension and confirm the bail conditions next week.
Local UK media remains constrained in publicly identifying Partey due to the country’s strict censorship laws.
This publication does not have operations in the UK and as such is not precluded in any way by its laws.
True Crime News Weekly elected to publicly identify Partey as the famous footballer at the centre of the rape investigation in mid-July, just a week after initial reports aired in the UK media.
WATCH: “FOR WHAT HE’S BEEN THROUGH” – ARSENAL MANAGER MIKEL ARTETA CRYPTICALLY SUPPORTS ALLEGED RAPIST THOMAS PARTEY AFTER GOAL AGAINST SPURS
The latest extension of Partey’s bail came just days after he scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over local rivals and fellow EPL title challengers, Tottenham Hotspur.
Club hierarchy within Arsenal have been aware of the allegations against Partey for about one year.
He has kept featuring heavily in the football club’s matchday squad despite the allegations and even a six-figure payout to one woman.
One of Partey’s alleged victims has already received £200,000 as part of a settlement reached last year with the footballer and his club. The woman has recently stated on social media that she is willing to give it all back so she can publicly speak out after having discovered that she may not be the only victim involved.
After Arsenal’s win over Tottenham last weekend, the club’s manager Mikel Arteta paid tribute to Partey because of “for what he’s been through and the injuries.”
When asked to clarify those comments a few days later, Arteta claimed he was only talking about the various injury struggles the midfielder has endured since his high price transfer from Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal’s decision to continue placing Partey on a public pedestal despite the police investigation stands in stark contrast to the actions of other EPL clubs in recent months when their players have become involved in unsavoury and allegedly criminally abusive behaviours.
Manchester United suspended it star English winger, Mason Greenwood, in February following his arrest on suspicion of rape, assault and threats to kill involving his former girlfriend. Eight months later, Greenwood is still suspended while he remains on conditional bail as police investigate the allegations.
Last July, Everton dropped Icelandic midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson, following his arrest on suspicion of child sexual abuse. Sigurdsson – who like Partey cannot be publicly identified by UK media – didn’t play one more match for the club before he was quietly let go when his contract came to an end in June 2022. It’s believed the police investigation into Sigurdsson remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, Partey continues to play and gain the adulation of the fans while he is also due to represent his national team of Ghana at next month’s World Cup in Qatar.
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