Thomas Partey, the Villarreal midfielder and former Arsenal player, faced a hostile reception from Tottenham Hotspur fans on Tuesday evening ahead of his scheduled court appearance on Wednesday. Partey's new club, Villarreal, faced Tottenham in their Champions League league phase opener, a match that placed Partey in the awkward position of facing Arsenal's North London rivals mere hours before he is due in court.

Partey is facing serious charges, including two counts of rape against one woman and three counts against another. An additional sexual assault allegation has been made by a third woman. He was initially charged in July 2025 and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he was granted bail. He denies all charges.

Despite the seriousness of the impending court appearance, Villarreal manager Marcelino insisted that Partey was mentally prepared to play. He highlighted Partey's experience and footballing ability, stating that he was fully convinced that Partey was ready for the game. He added that the club was happy to have Partey, praising his human qualities in addition to his skills as a player.

Even with his manager's support, Partey started the match against Tottenham on the bench. His appearance in North London, so close to his court date, has drawn considerable attention. His legal team has issued a statement denying all charges and asserting that Partey has cooperated fully with investigators and welcomes the opportunity to clear his name.

The fact that Partey was allowed to complete his transfer to Spain and continue playing despite the charges has sparked controversy. Some fans launched a petition to prevent his transfer from going through. When he made his debut for Villarreal against Oviedo last month, he was met with boos and whistles from some fans.

Partey's next court date is September 17, at Southwark Crown Court. The hearing was previously scheduled for September 2 at the Old Bailey, but it was adjourned without explanation.