Villarreal president Fernando Roig has appealed to the club’s supporters to stand behind Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey as he faces legal proceedings in London.
Partey, 32, joined the Spanish La Liga side earlier this summer on a two-year contract after leaving Arsenal at the end of June.
Just four days after departing the Premier League club, he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault in England, relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022 during his time at Arsenal. His arrival at Villarreal has sparked protests among some sections of the fan base.
However, Roig insists the midfielder remains eligible to play for the club until the legal process is concluded.
“We must be cautious and wait for justice. Let’s not judge prematurely. Thomas has the right to do his job until there is a conviction,” Roig said following Villarreal’s 2-0 preseason loss to Aston Villa.
“At this moment, Partey is as innocent as the rest of us here. A fundamental right like this must be respected. The English whistled Partey. Not the Villarreal fans. I wouldn’t like our own fans to whistle at players on our team. We must stand with the team. He is not a convicted player,” Roig stressed.
Partey has denied all charges and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September.
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