Thomas Partey Protests Go Missing On Villarreal Debut Against Real Oviedo

Thomas Partey was greeted pinch immoderate whistles, a small applause and nary awesome protestation arsenic he made his competitory debut for Villarreal. The 32-year-old erstwhile Arsenal midfielder has been released connected bail, charged pinch 5 counts of rape and 1 count of intersexual assault, which he denies, and his signing had drawn complaints from supporters successful Spain but connected his first La Liga quality astatine nan Estadio de la Cerámica connected Friday nighttime location was mostly indifference.

Partey was introduced successful nan 82nd minute, alongside Alfonso Pedraza, pinch Santi Comesaña and Nicolas Pépé making way. As nan 2 players entered nan pitch, pinch Villarreal already 2-0 up against Real Oviedo and nan crippled drifting to a conclusion, immoderate whistles could beryllium heard among nan clapping. Partey touched nan shot 13 times, and nan first 4 aliases 5 of those were met much intelligibly pinch whistles, though they soon faded. They did not travel from a peculiarly important information of nan crowd. There was besides immoderate timid applause successful consequence to nan whistles.

There were nary banners, nary chants, nary renewed societal media run and neither head was asked to remark connected Partey aft nan game. The whistles were not capable to beryllium registered by everyone. Cadena Ser radio’s section correspondent, who sat successful nan property area precocious successful nan main stand, reported that he had not heard any.

“The Cerámica is going to dainty Thomas Partey arsenic conscionable different player, astatine slightest for nan moment,” wrote nan sports newspaper AS. “The mostly of nan Villarreal fans judge nan presumption of his innocence.”

Partey appeared successful court successful early August, wherever he was granted conditional bail and charged pinch 5 counts of rape of 2 women and different count of intersexual battle against a 3rd woman. The offences were alleged to person taken spot during 2021 and 2022 erstwhile he was astatine Arsenal, though he had initially not been named for ineligible reasons. Partey’s lawyer has said that he “denies each nan charges against him” and welcomes “the opportunity to yet clear his name”. He joined Villarreal 2 days later. If he is recovered guilty, his statement will beryllium automatically rescinded.

“His is successful nan midst of a ineligible process. He defends his innocence and denies nan accusations,” said nan Villarreal president, Fernando Roig. “The nine defends nan presumption of innocence and it is for nan English justness strategy to explain nan facts. Logically, we are opposed to immoderate type of unit successful aliases extracurricular of football. At nan moment, Partey is arsenic guiltless arsenic everyone other here. That basal correct must beryllium respected. He is simply a awesome subordinate and he will thief america turn arsenic a team. If he is [found] blameworthy he will nary longer beryllium portion of Villarreal but he is not [yet]. We person to wait.”

Thomas Partey is embraced by nan Villarreal president, Fernando Roig, astatine full-time. Photograph: Andreu Esteban/EPA

Some Villarreal fans opposed nan move. José Ángel Arnau, a spokesperson for nan federation of Villarreal supporters’ clubs, described nan signing arsenic divisive. “Villarreal person sewage themselves into an unnecessary mess,” he told El País. “I americium against this signing. This goes against everything they person ever said, nan image of a quiet, family club. Now it seems for illustration thing goes.”

An online petition opposing his signing presently has conscionable complete 1,000 signatures. However, nan president of nan federation of supporters’ clubs, Javier Pérez, said: “If nan nine person backed him, truthful should we. He is 1 of ours and we will support him for illustration immoderate different player.”

When Villarreal played Aston Villa successful a pre-season friends astatine nan Cerámica past Sunday, Partey was whistled. “It was nan English that whistled him, not nan Villarreal fans,” Roig said. “I wouldn’t for illustration our ain fans to whistle players successful our team. You person to beryllium pinch nan squad and respect nan presumption of innocence. Let america not judge up of time. Thomas has nan correct to do his occupation until location is simply a verdict. I wouldn’t for illustration it astatine each if our ain group were whistled.”

On Friday night, erstwhile Villarreal returned to their location crushed for nan opening time of nan season, that was a position that appeared to beryllium shared by most, though not each supporters.