England defender Djed Spence sparks social media reaction after apparent Thomas Partey handshake snub

England defender Djed Spence became an unexpected talking point ahead of Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup clash with Ghana after footage emerged on social media appearing to show him avoiding a handshake with Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey.The incident occurred during the traditional pre-match handshakes before England’s Group L encounter with Ghana at Boston Stadium.Television coverage cut away before the exchange could be clearly seen, but video clips shared online appeared to show Spence bypassing Partey’s outstretched hand as the Ghana vice-captain moved along the England line.The footage quickly went viral, generating widespread discussion among football fans on social media.Neither Spence nor the England camp have publicly commented on the incident, leaving supporters to speculate about whether the interaction was intentional or simply a misunderstanding in the pre-match proceedings.The Tottenham Hotspur full-back was one of several England players lining up against Ghana, with most of his teammates appearing to greet Partey normally before kick-off.England captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and other members of the squad were seen either shaking hands with or fist-bumping the former Arsenal midfielder.The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding Partey’s participation at the World Cup.The Ghana international missed the Black Stars’ opening match against Panama after being denied entry into Canada but was cleared to enter the United States and rejoined the squad ahead of the England fixture.During the match itself, Partey was repeatedly booed by sections of England supporters whenever he touched the ball. The reaction started when Ghana’s team was announced before kick-off and continued throughout the game.Spence’s apparent snub added another layer to a fixture that had already attracted significant attention due to Partey’s presence.The England defender, who enjoyed a strong season with Tottenham Hotspur, has generally kept a low profile throughout the tournament, but his brief interaction with the Ghana midfielder became one of the most discussed moments before the match had even begun.