Don’t try it! — ‘Angry’ Villarreal fans sign petition to REJECT Thomas Partey’s signing amid rape charges

Thomas Partey is faced with one of the most difficult moments of his career.

The 32-year-old, who was recently granted bail, faces grave charges of rape and sexual assault in the UK.

And now his imminent transfer to Spanish club Villarreal could be in danger of falling through.

In a powerful display of fan activism, hundreds of Villarreal supporters have launched an online petition to halt the imminent signing of the former Arsenal midfielder.

Partey's potential transfer to the LaLiga club, which defeated his former side 3-2 in a pre-season game on Wednesday night, has sparked outrage among a section of its fanbase. 

According to Daily Mail, the petition, titled 'Say NO to Thomas Partey at Villarreal,' had amassed over 800 signatures at the time of writing and is rapidly gaining traction on social media platforms like X and Facebook. 

Per The Guardian, the petition was launched by the online content hub Villarreal Report, which said this week that the signing would be “an act of pure betrayal of the highest order” against the club’s supporters and Villarreal’s values.

“The darkest day in the club’s history is drawing closer by the second,” it said on social media.

The petition's authors argue that the signing would be a "slap in the face" to both supporters and "all victims of sexual abuse worldwide."

The protest highlights a growing discomfort among supporters regarding clubs signing players embroiled in serious legal cases.

The charges against Thomas Partey are extensive and serious, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirming he faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

 According to the court hearing, the allegations involve two counts of rape against one woman and three counts against another, with the sexual assault allegation relating to a third woman. 

It was heard in court that Partey allegedly raped one of the women three times at his Hertfordshire home and is also accused of attacking one of the women at a resort in Spain. 

Following a three-year investigation, Partey appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court where he was granted conditional bail. 

The terms of his bail require him not to contact any of the three women and to notify police of any international travel.

 His next court appearance is scheduled for September 2 at Crown Court.

Despite the proceedings, Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, has stated that he "denies all the charges against him" and "welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name." 

His former club, Arsenal, where he left as a free agent in June, has been the subject of protest as well. 

An Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence group gathered outside the court with a sign that read, "Arsenal said: 'We do the right thing'. Then did nothing." 

The group previously said that any club continually selecting a player under investigation for sexual offences gives "the suggestion that success on the pitch far outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence."

When questioned during the pre-season tour, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta said he was '100 per cent' comfortable with the club's handling of the case.