BENJAMIN MENDY, acquitted in a sex offences trial in England in July, came on for Lorient on Sunday for his first game in two years.
The 29-year-old ex-Manchester City and France defender was introduced in the 70th minute of Lorient’s 2-2 French Ligue 1 draw against Monaco. His last competitive game before this was back in August 2021 in the Premier League for City against Tottenham.He signed for Lorient a week after his trial ended.
The player, who would have faced a lengthy jail term if convicted, had previously been cleared in January of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault following a six-month trial.Mendy, whose contract with English and European champions Manchester City expired at the end of June, denied all the charges against him.– © AFP 2023