After years of legal setbacks ended with an acquittal in a rape trial in June in England, Benjamin Mendy could return to the pitch of a football field for the first time in two years with Lorient against Monaco, Sunday for the 5th day of the French championship. The 29-year-old defender is in the squad for the first time since his surprise arrival at Lorient, Brittany, in July, after being released by Manchester City.
The French international, world champion with the Blues in 2018, has not played an official match for more than two years, and should be a substitute. “He can play left axis or left piston. We do not know the duration he is capable of sustaining, but he will not start as a starter,” announced his coach Régis Le Bris on Friday.
Controversial recruitment
Targeted by several complaints for rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, accusations which he has always contested, citing consensual relations which took place at his home, the former Citizens player, immediately suspended by the English club, had was incarcerated in August 2021, spending four months in pre-trial detention.
In a first trial last January, the jury found him not guilty of six rapes and a sexual assault, after four months of hearings. In June, a second trial looked at the two charges on which the jury failed to reach a verdict, and found him not guilty.
If this decision put an end to all the proceedings initiated against Mendy by the British courts, it did not prevent the controversy over his surprise recruitment by Lorient, beyond the sporting bet represented by his transfer.
“A certain uneasiness” among the supporters
The club kept the native of Longjumeau, in Île-de-France, away from any media requests, while he carried out necessary fitness work before returning to the pitch, which he has not set foot on since on August 15, 2021 and a match at Tottenham.
On several occasions since this summer, collages denouncing his recruitment but also generally targeting sexual and gender-based violence in the world of football have been made around the stadium. The Merlus Ultras, the club’s main group of supporters, had for their part expressed “a certain uneasiness” about the arrival of the defender with 10 caps with the Blues.
“Our role is not to replace justice. […] But we are fully aware that the defense of victims of sexist and sexual assault is essential,” added the group in a press release published in July, a few days after the announcement of the transfer.
“We have to accept the fact that people express themselves. If opinions are expressed in a legal manner, it is their right, and we must play football. I have no problem with that,” reacted Friday Régis Le Bris, adding that “today, the case has been closed, we want to concentrate on football”.
So many reactions which cast doubt on the reception he will receive at the Moustoir stadium on Sunday (1:00 p.m.), for the Monaco reception.