Thomas Partey rape charges explained: Why did it take so long and why are Arsenal under scrutiny?

托马斯·帕蒂强奸指控详解：为何耗时如此之久？阿森纳为何受到审视？

By Philip Buckingham July 5, 2025Updated 6:19 am

Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder, has been charged with multiple counts of rape following a police investigation spanning three years.

经过为期三年的警方调查，前阿森纳中场球员托马斯·帕蒂被控犯有多项强奸罪。

Partey is accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three victims between 2021 and 2022. A first court appearance will come next month.

帕蒂被指控在2021年至2022年间对三名受害者犯下五项强奸罪和一项性侵犯罪。首次法庭出庭定于下个月。

The Athletic looks at the key questions surrounding the case as he prepares for trial.

《The Athletic》审视了围绕此案的关键问题，因为帕蒂即将面临审判。

Who is Thomas Partey?

托马斯·帕蒂是谁？

Partey is a Ghana international who has won 53 caps for his country and who has spent the last decade playing in the top divisions of Spain and England.

帕蒂是加纳国脚，已代表国家队出场53次。过去十年，他一直在西班牙和英格兰的顶级联赛效力。

The 32-year-old midfielder spent seven years with Atletico Madrid, where he won the La Liga title and the UEFA Europa League as well as earning a runner-up’s medal in the Champions League in 2016.

这位32岁的中场球员在马德里竞技效力了七年，期间赢得了西甲冠军和欧联杯冠军，并在2016年获得了欧冠亚军奖牌。

He joined Premier League club Arsenal for £45million ($61.4m) in 2020 and has been a key player under manager Mikel Arteta for the majority of his five seasons at the Emirates Stadium, playing 167 games in all competitions.

他于2020年以4500万英镑（6140万美元）的价格加盟英超俱乐部阿森纳，并在酋长球场效力的五个赛季中大部分时间里都是主教练米克尔·阿尔特塔麾下的关键球员，在各项赛事中出场167次。

There had been discussions held over extending Partey’s contract at the end of last season but he was eventually allowed to leave as a free agent when his deal expired on June 30.

上赛季末，俱乐部曾讨论过与帕蒂续约，但最终允许他在6月30日合同到期后以自由球员身份离队。

What has he been charged with?

他被指控了什么？

Partey has been under investigation over rape allegations since February 2022, and was first arrested in July of that year.

自2022年2月以来，帕蒂一直因强奸指控接受调查，并于当年7月首次被捕。

He has now been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

他现在被指控犯有五项强奸罪和一项性侵犯罪。

The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), an independent body that prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by police and other investigative bodies in England and Wales, outlined those charges on Friday afternoon.

负责起诉英格兰和威尔士警方及其他调查机构侦办刑事案件的独立机构——英国皇家检察署（CPS）于周五下午概述了这些指控。

It said the allegations related to “three separate women who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022”.

该机构表示，这些指控涉及“三名独立的女性，她们报告了发生在2021年至2022年间的事件”。

That included two counts of rape against one complainant, three counts of rape against a second complainant and one count of sexual assault against a third.

其中包括对第一位申诉人的两项强奸指控，对第二位申诉人的三项强奸指控，以及对第三位申诉人的一项性侵犯罪指控。

“The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence,” said Jaswant Narwal, the chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North.

CPS伦敦北区首席检察官贾斯万特·纳瓦尔说：“皇家检察署在仔细审查了全面的证据文件后，今天授权对托马斯·帕蒂的多项强奸罪提起公诉。”

“Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.”

“我们的检察官与负责调查的伦敦警察厅（Met Police）警员密切合作，审查证据并就合适的指控提供建议。”

A statement from Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, outlined his desire to prove his innocence.

帕蒂的律师、来自Hickman and Rose律师事务所的珍妮·威尔特希尔发表声明，概述了他证明自己清白的愿望。

“Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him,” it read. “He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.

声明称：“托马斯·帕蒂否认所有针对他的指控。在整个三年的调查过程中，他全力配合了警方和CPS。他现在欢迎有机会最终洗清自己的罪名。”

“Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further.”

“鉴于目前正在进行法律程序，我的当事人无法进一步置评。”

Why has this taken so long?

为何耗时如此之久？

Rape charges are among the most challenging to get a conviction for.

强奸指控是最难获得定罪的罪名之一。

In its guidelines on how it charges and prosecutes rape cases, the CPS says it has to be satisfied that there is enough evidence for there to be a “realistic prospect of conviction” before the investigating police force is authorised to charge the defendant.

在关于如何起诉强奸案件的指导方针中，CPS表示，在授权调查警队对被告提出指控之前，它必须确信有足够的证据证明存在“现实的定罪可能性”。

That will ultimately be based upon the evidence available and it will be up to prosecutors to try to convince a jury at any trial that the defendant did not have “reasonable belief” that the victim was consenting to the sexual activity.

这最终将基于现有证据，并且在任何审判中，将由检察官努力说服陪审团，被告没有“合理相信”受害者同意发生性行为。

Partey has been questioned by the Met Police on multiple occasions after an initial arrest in July 2022, with bail routinely extended, allowing him to continue his career with Arsenal.

在2022年7月首次被捕后，帕蒂多次受到伦敦警察厅的讯问，保释期被例行延长，使他得以继续在阿森纳的职业生涯。

Why have The Athletic not named Partey in reporting until now?

为何《The Athletic》此前在报道中未点名帕蒂？

This is a legal obligation. In the United Kingdom, arrested suspects have the right to privacy until the police charge them. The courts generally consider there is no public interest in knowing what someone is being investigated for or has been arrested for.

这是法律义务。在英国，被捕嫌疑人在被警方正式指控之前享有隐私权。法院通常认为，知晓某人因何事接受调查或被逮捕并无公共利益。

The point of charge is when that position changes and that is why Partey’s name has now been published in relation to the case. That is not to say supporters were unaware, with social media posts regularly linking Partey to the allegations. That is why Partey’s solicitor suggested this was a chance for her client to “finally clear his name”.

指控的时刻是立场改变之时，这就是为什么帕蒂的名字现在被公布与此案相关联。这并不是说球迷们不知情，社交媒体上经常有帖子将帕蒂与这些指控联系起来。这也是为什么帕蒂的律师表示这是她的当事人“最终洗清罪名”的机会。

Why have Arsenal been criticised?

阿森纳为何受到批评？

Arsenal have been aware of the police investigation into Partey throughout. Club sources, speaking anonymously to protect their positions, told The Athletic that they have followed all legal advice and safeguarding measures.

阿森纳在整个过程中都知晓警方对帕蒂的调查。俱乐部消息人士为保护自身立场匿名告诉《The Athletic》，他们遵循了所有的法律建议和保障措施。

But protests, not specifically referencing the player, have been regularly staged by the campaign group Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence (ASASV), which considers that once such serious allegations have been made against someone, they should be suspended.

但抗议活动——并未具体点名该球员——由名为“阿森纳球迷反对性暴力”（Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence, ASASV）的运动组织定期发起。该组织认为，一旦有人面临如此严重的指控，就应该被停职/停赛。

ASASV issued a statement on Friday saying it was “devastated and ashamed” by the club’s stance on Partey, and reiterated its call for any individual under investigation for criminal offences to be suspended.

ASASV周五发表声明，表示对俱乐部在帕蒂问题上的立场感到“极度失望和羞耻”，并重申其呼吁：任何因刑事犯罪接受调查的个人都应被停职/停赛。

“We will continue to campaign to hold the club that we love accountable — this was never just about one player,” the statement concluded.

声明总结道：“我们将继续开展活动，要求我们热爱的俱乐部承担责任——这从来不仅仅关乎一名球员。”

There has been criticism from other sectors, too. Dino Nocivelli, a partner at legal firm Leigh Day, told The Telegraph: “I think the fact that the defendant in these cases has been able to continue his working life is wrong and clearly sends the wrong message for such serious allegations as rape and sexual assault.

其他领域也有批评之声。Leigh Day律师事务所合伙人迪诺·诺西维利告诉《每日电讯报》：“我认为，这些案件中的被告能够继续其工作生涯是错误的，对于强奸和性侵犯如此严重的指控，这显然传递了错误的信息。”

“The player should have been suspended while his football club and the (English) Football Association investigated the allegations, with no prospect of resuming his work until the investigations were concluded.”

“在球员所在的足球俱乐部和（英格兰）足球总会调查这些指控期间，该球员本应被停赛，并且在调查结束前不应有恢复工作的可能。”

Others have criticised the fact that, as recently as April, the club were keen to extend Partey’s contract and were in talks with him over a new deal.

其他人则批评了这样一个事实：就在今年四月，俱乐部还热衷于与帕蒂续约，并正在与他商谈新合同。

In a general statement about the case issued on Friday night, Arsenal said: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.”

阿森纳在周五晚上就此事发表的一份笼统声明中表示：“该球员的合同已于6月30日到期。由于法律程序正在进行中，俱乐部无法对此案发表评论。”

The FA has been approached for comment by The Athletic.

《The Athletic》已联系英足总（FA）寻求评论。

Have other players charged with similar crimes played on for their clubs?

是否有其他被控类似罪行的球员继续为其俱乐部效力？

English football has known a number of high-profile players answer sexual assault charges in recent years, with Partey the latest name to leave his (now former) employer facing criticisms.

近年来，英格兰足坛已有数位知名球员回应性侵犯指控，帕蒂是最新一位让其（现为前）雇主面临批评的名字。

Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City full-back, was another to face multiple counts of rape when charged by Chesire Police in August 2021. City responded by suspending Mendy, who denied all charges, at that point but the France international had remained available for selection during the initial investigation.

前曼城边后卫本杰明·门迪是另一位面临多项强奸指控的球员，他于2021年8月被柴郡警方指控。曼城当时的回应是暂停门迪的职务（门迪否认了所有指控），但在最初的调查期间，这位法国国脚仍可被球队选择上场。

Mendy was eventually found not guilty of all charges but had left Manchester City at the time of his full acquittal. He later won the main part of an employment tribunal against the club that saw him claim £11million ($14.2m) in unpaid wages.

门迪最终被裁定所有罪名不成立，但在完全无罪释放时已离开曼城。他后来在与俱乐部的雇佣法庭诉讼中赢得了主要部分，索赔了1100万英镑（1420万美元）的未付工资。

Sunderland were willing to continue playing the former England winger Adam Johnson after he was charged for having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. Johnson remained a regular starter up until the weekend before the beginning of his trial, where he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 and grooming. Sunderland only terminated Johnson’s contract at that point. He was later sentenced to six years in prison.

桑德兰队在英格兰前边锋亚当·约翰逊被控与一名15岁女孩发生性行为后，仍愿意让他继续上场。约翰逊在审判开始前的周末之前一直是常规首发球员，在审判中他对与16岁以下儿童发生性行为和引诱的指控认罪。桑德兰直到那时才终止了约翰逊的合同。他后来被判处六年监禁。

Another case, maintaining the anonymity of the professional footballer arrested throughout, took a very different approach.

另一起案件（始终未透露被捕职业足球运动员的姓名）采取了截然不同的做法。

That player was suspended by his club shortly after his arrest in July 2021 on suspicion of multiple child sex offences and remained unavailable throughout his time on bail. He was told he would face no action 21 months later, after his case failed to “reach the threshold set out on the Code for Crown Prosecutors”.

该球员在2021年7月因涉嫌多项儿童性犯罪被捕后不久，即被其俱乐部停赛，并在整个保释期间无法上场。21个月后，他被告知将不会面临任何起诉，因为他的案件未能“达到《皇家检察官准则》设定的门槛”。

What happens to Partey now?

帕蒂现在情况如何？

Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 5 to answer the charges but it is highly likely his case will not go to trial until next year.

帕蒂定于8月5日（星期二）在威斯敏斯特治安法院出庭应诉，但他的案件很可能要到明年才会进入庭审阶段。

The 32-year-old, a free agent for the last four days, is still able to pursue the next step in his career but any club wishing to offer a fresh challenge will do so knowing Partey has serious charges to answer in the UK.

这位32岁的球员，在成为自由球员四天后，仍然可以寻求职业生涯的下一步，但任何希望提供新挑战的俱乐部都将知晓帕蒂在英国有严重的指控需要应对。