ADDRESSING THE ALLEGATIONS
This isn’t a joyful post. I usually write to bring a bit of light to your day, but that won’t be the case today.
Thomas Partey has been charged by the CPS after a three-year investigation. Three women have made serious allegations against our former player. The substance of the charges, and the optics surrounding them, reflect poorly on Arsenal Football Club.
My thoughts are first and foremost with the victims. However the case unfolds, three people have waited three years to reach this point. That kind of delay is outrageous, regardless of how complex the process may be.
There are two parts to this story from an Arsenal perspective. The first has to be addressed with some emotional distance, however charged the situation might be.
Allegations are not convictions. During the investigation phase, Arsenal had limited options. Suspending a player, reducing game time, or altering how he was treated would’ve opened them up to legal risks — and moral ones. Acting as judge and jury without a charge is not a line many clubs are prepared to cross.
We’ve seen how these cases can go.Benjamin Mendy was cleared in court, and Manchester City were taken to the cleaners by his lawyers. In America, some baseball players have lost careers before charges were brought, and clubs have had to pay outextraordinary sums when those actions were later found to be unjustified.
Clubs have to follow the law, and Arsenal, up to a point, did just that.
But the second part is harder to stomach.
While Arsenal might have followed the legal playbook early on, reports suggest the club considered giving Partey a new contract in 2023. That raises serious questions.
A club with Arsenal’s resources and reputation for protecting itself surely had some insight into the severity of the situation. So why push for a contract extension? If the bullet was dodged, it sounds like it was only because Partey wanted more money than Arsenal were willing to pay… not because of ethical concerns or reputational risk.
Plausible deniability will be the club’s shield now. But many fans will struggle to believe that a club of Arsenal’s scope didn’t have at least an inkling of what might be coming.
There’s still a long way to go. Partey is innocent until proven guilty. But regardless of the outcome, this story will cast a shadow on the club.
I started yesterday in an Arsenal shirt, a rarity for me. But after the news dropped, the badge felt heavy, so I changed. I don’t like feeling that way about my club.
This case could drag on for months, if not years. It will continue to distract, to damage, to divide. The nagging question Arsenal will have to answer is… could they have done better here? The broader question is, what can sport do to be better about this?
Note: I’ve closed comments on this post. I don’t want any legal heat for an open case. New blog coming later.