Villarreal president Fernando Roig has defended the club’s decision to field Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey while legal proceedings against him continue in London, stressing that the player must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Partey, who joined Villarreal this summer after leaving Arsenal, signed his contract while on bail over sexual assault charges. His transfer has attracted widespread attention both in Spain and internationally, prompting Roig to clarify the club’s stance.
Speaking after Villarreal’s 2-0 preseason defeat to Aston Villa, Roig called for patience and respect for due process.
“We must be cautious and wait for justice. Let’s not judge prematurely. Thomas has the right to do his job until there is a conviction,” he said.
“At this moment, Partey is as innocent as the rest of us here. A fundamental right like this must be respected.”
The Villarreal president also addressed crowd reactions, noting that the player was jeered by some spectators in England but has not faced similar treatment from the Yellow Submarine’s supporters.
“The English whistled Partey. Not the Villarreal fans. I wouldn’t like our own fans to whistle at players on our team. We must stand with the team,” he explained.
Roig reiterated that the midfielder has not been convicted and that any judgment should come from the courts, not the stands.
