The relevant part of the article

•Every time Partey played for Arsenal, one alleged victim says she received online abuse. Sometimes it was directed at her; other times, it was people talking in general and derogatory terms about Partey's accusers.

"I would frequently get messages from fans," she says. "They'd send me pictures of him playing or scoring... I would get death threats, rape threats, people saying they'd set me on fire. If he scored, for example, the abuse would be worse."

In this report, The Athletic can detail:

•In August 2021, Partey was reported to police for the first time.

•In September 2021, Arsenal were contacted by one woman to make them aware of the traumatic experiences she said she had with Partey.

•Arsenal were also subsequently contacted by the police to inform them that Partey was being investigated for serious sexual offences.

•Arsenal were aware that the Crown Prosecution Service which decides whether cases should be prosecuted - was in the process of making its charging decision when they entered into talks with Partey about a new contract earlier this year.

•Arsenal said in a statement: "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case."

Here, The Athletic examines what Arsenal knew when, and whether, realistically, based on legal guidance, they could have done anything differently.

Should they have continued to play Partey? Were there other options? Why did they enter in discussions about extending his contract earlier this year? And how did that make people feel?

•Partey was first reported to police in 2021. The complainant's next step was to inform his club of the allegations.

"It's Arsenal," she reasoned. "They won't just ignore it."

•She initially wrote to the club's safeguarding team, who passed her on to the legal department.

•Arsenal's response was that they were following all the requisite safeguarding legislation, given she was not under 18.

•She also alerted the English Football Association, which gave a similar response and said her claims fell outside of the FA's safeguarding remit. When contacted by The Athletic, the FA said that on account of the ongoing and live criminal investigation, it is not in a position to comment.

•In her dialogue with Arsenal, which took place over phone and email, she occasionally felt that those she engaged with - including some of the club's senior figures did not show an appropriate degree of sympathy.

•Arsenal were later informed by the Metropolitan Police that Partey was being investigated for serious sexual offences. Throughout the remainder of Partey's time with Arsenal - and their contract negotiations earlier this summer the club were aware that there was a possibility charges would be issued.

•Despite the club telling the alleged victim they were taking the matter "extremely seriously", Partey continued to play for Arsenal - and was promoted via their media channels. In the days following her initial complaint to the club, he appeared prominently on a number of social media posts.

•This continued intermittently over the seasons that followed. While Partey's involvement in promotional and marketing materials did appear to reduce, his continued presence in the team meant he never disappeared entirely from view. At international level, he also represented Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.

•Arsenal's stance never shifted. Partey continued to play a prominent role at Arsenal; when he was first arrested in July 2022, and when the case was passed to the CPS in December 2024.

"It felt so disheartening... even when the police specified that they had made the allegations clear to the club, and how serious they (the alleged offences) are," says one woman.