Tottenham Hotspur full-back Djed Spence has finally broken his silence on the controversy that erupted following England’s 2026 World Cup clash with Ghana, putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding his much-discussed exchange with Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey.
The moment unfolded ahead of England’s Group L tie against Ghana in Boston. During the pre-match handshake ritual, TV cameras caught Spence appearing to keep his hands tucked in his pockets as Partey came over, seemingly sidestepping any physical greeting. Clips of the exchange spread rapidly online, triggering heated debate among fans, pundits and commentators alike.
After weeks of staying quiet, Spence appeared to offer a response via Instagram, posting match photos captioned simply with the word “BELIEVE” — a message many took as a quiet affirmation of standing by his own values. He stopped short of directly addressing what happened, but the timing only added fuel to the ongoing chatter about what he meant.
England had gone into the fixture as favourites under Thomas Tuchel but were frustrated by a well-organised Ghana side in a goalless draw. Yet it was the pre-match handshake, not the result, that dominated the headlines. Footage showed Spence appearing to skip past Partey while greeting the rest of the Ghana lineup, and the clip quickly split opinion across the footballing world.
Adding weight to the moment is the fact that Partey is currently facing several criminal charges in the UK, including allegations of rape and sexual assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty as proceedings continue. Despite this, Ghana still named the former Arsenal man in their World Cup squad. Reports indicated the English FA had not issued any specific instructions to players on how to handle interactions with Partey, leaving it down to personal choice.
Reaction was immediately split. Some fans backed Spence for sticking to his principles, while others felt football etiquette should hold regardless of pending legal matters, pointing to the presumption of innocence. Partey also faced boos from sections of the England crowd throughout the match, adding further tension to an already charged occasion. Neither player addressed the incident publicly at the time, leaving room for weeks of speculation until Spence’s Instagram post reopened the conversation.
Spence has quietly become a key figure for both Tottenham and England, valued for his pace, athleticism and defensive reliability on either side of the backline. Typically low-key off the pitch, the 25-year-old is rarely at the centre of controversy, which made both the handshake moment and his cryptic follow-up all the more notable — a brief, open-ended post rather than a detailed explanation.
The episode has since sparked a broader conversation about how footballers should navigate situations involving ongoing legal cases. Those siding with Spence argue players should be free to act on personal conscience, while others maintain the game should stay separate from legal matters until the courts reach a verdict — raising wider questions about professionalism and where personal belief fits into it all.
Despite the noise, England’s World Cup campaign rolled on, with Spence remaining a fixture in Tuchel’s squad. Whether his post was a direct response to the incident or simply a personal statement, it’s become tightly bound to one of the tournament’s defining storylines — seen by some as quiet confidence, and by others as leaving more questions than answers. Either way, it’s a reminder of how even the smallest gestures can spark global conversation, and as attention shifts back to the pitch, Spence’s understated response looks set to remain one of the tournament’s lasting talking points.
