Ligue 1 side FC Lorient yesterday officially announced the signing of left-back Benjamin Mendy (29) on a two-year deal, following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City earlier this summer.
Last week, Benjamin Mendy was acquitted of all charges related to one counts of rape and one of attempted rape, after previously being cleared of six charges of rape and one of sexual assault in January. These legal proceedings had resulted in his suspension from Manchester City since August 2021 and put his football career on hold for nearly two years.
Speaking to FranceInfo, French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had her say on Mendy restarting his career at FC Lorient. “Now he is in sports rehabilitation after almost two years of his career and life being interrupted,” began Oudéa-Castéra, adding that “justice has been served and we have to respect it. He’s had two trials. And if when you’re acquitted, it generates the same suspicion as when you’re accused, you lose your sense of justice.”
She did add however, that “at the same time, we have to keep pushing for freedom of speech, and respect for victims”.
GFFN | George Boxall
