Overview
- A French court has ordered Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi to stand trial on rape charges while no trial date has yet been set and he continues to play at the World Cup.
- Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey faces multiple charges in the UK, was refused entry to Canada but received a US visa and has been able to join his team at the tournament.
- Both Hakimi and Partey deny the allegations against them with Hakimi consistently denying the claims and Partey pleading not guilty in court filings.
- Matches have shown visible public and player reactions to the cases, including fans booing and a player refusing a pre‑match handshake, which has intensified debate over platforming accused players.
- Observers and survivor advocates say the sport has no consistent framework to handle serious criminal allegations, leaving host‑country immigration rules to decide availability and increasing pressure on FIFA and associations to set clear policies.