On July 4, 2025, the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) officially charged Thomas Partey with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three women. The incidents allegedly happened between 2021 and 2022. Partey is due to appear in court on August 5. In the wake of these charges, we take a look at other African footballers who’ve had legal troubles in Europe.
Yannick Bapupa (DR Congo)
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) player Yannick Bapupa served a two year prison sentence after he was found guilty of rape. He was celebrating a new contract he signed at Kalmar FF. Bapupa was released in 2011, and his career has never recovered since.
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El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
Senegalese star El Hadji Diouf, one of the most entertaining African footballers, had multiple run-ins with the law. In France, Diouf was caught driving without a license, and in the United Kingdom, he was involved in some on-field spitting incidents involving some fans and other players. He was fined and served community service.
Godwin Okpara (Nigeria)
Former Nigerian international Godwin Okpara was convicted in France for the rape of his 13-year-old adopted daughter. It was a shocking revelation because the victim is his child. Okpara was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but it was reduced to 7 years upon appeal. This ended his professional career, and he has remained out of the spotlight after serving his sentence.
Arthur Farh (Liberia)
Arthur Farh isn’t the biggest name in African football, but he played for some European clubs – Marseille, Grenoble, Stuttgarter Kickers, FC Homburg, SV Wilhelmshaven and SC Delmenhorst. However, after his career, Farh was involved in drug smuggling and was arrested at Heathrow Airport with about £40,000 worth of cocaine. He was prosecuted and convicted, a far cry from his professional career.
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Benjamin Mendy (France/Senegal descent)
Benjamin Mendy, a French international of Senegalese heritage, faced multiple charges of sexual assault and rape in the United Kingdom. The cases received global attention, partly due to his stature as a Premier League and World Cup-winning player. Mendy faced several trials over the years and was eventually acquitted, paving the way back to his football career. He has since played for Lorient and FC Zurich.
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Nizar Trabelsi (Tunisia)
Nizar Trabelsi, a former Tunisian footballer, had a brief time in European football, having played for Fortuna Düsseldorf and CS Faxsfien. He wasn’t among the biggest names in the game, and after his career ended, Trabelsi was arrested and convicted to 10 years in prison for his connection with Al-Qaeda and his plot to attack the Kleine Brogel Air Base. Trabelsi was also charged with plotting to attack the US Embassy in Paris. After his prison sentence in Belgium, he was extradited to the United States and remains incarcerated without trial.
Ibrahim Kargbo (Sierra Leone)
Former Sierra Leonean captain Ibrahim Kargbo was found guilty of match-fixing by FIFA and handed a lifetime ban from all footballing activities. His match manipulation tactics were done during his time in the Netherlands and Belgium. The case served as a major scandal in African football, raising questions about corruption and manipulation in the sport.
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Last Word
While these cases involve individuals and should not be generalized to all African players, they illustrate how fame and success don’t make one immune to legal or personal failings. Each case carries its own context and legal outcome, ranging from convictions and prison time to ongoing proceedings or disciplinary bans. For football fans, these stories are sobering reminders of the responsibilities that come with fame—and the consequences when those responsibilities are not upheld.
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