Ghana strongly criticises Canada for denying Thomas Partey a World Cup visa

• ‘High-handed and extremely unfair,’ government says

• Official note of protest sent calling for a review

Ghana’s government has described Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa for his country’s World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday as “high-handed and extremely unfair”.

Ghana’s foreign ministry said it understood the decision to be based on pending criminal proceedings in Britain. The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain. He has denied the charges.