Benjamin Mendy, a former Manchester City player, has initiated legal proceedings against the club, seeking £11 million in unpaid wages following his acquittal of multiple rape charges. Mendy, now playing for FC Lorient in France, has claimed that several of his teammates also participated in alcohol-fueled parties and casual encounters with women, similar to the gatherings that led to allegations against him. He contends that Manchester City unfairly singled him out by halting his salary while his teammates faced no such consequences.
Mendy’s legal battle centers on what he describes as an unjust treatment by the club during his legal troubles. He argues that his suspension and the withholding of his wages were unjustified, given that he was later cleared of all charges. Mendy asserts that other high-profile City players attended similar gatherings during lockdown, breaching COVID-19 regulations, but did not experience comparable disciplinary actions.
The former World Cup winner’s legal filing reveals that several first-team players attended parties that Mendy hosted. He states that these gatherings involved alcohol and casual encounters with women, and while his conduct was not excusable, it mirrored that of his teammates. Mendy suggests that the only difference between him and the others is that he was accused, leading to public humiliation and legal troubles.
Manchester City stopped paying Mendy’s salary in 2021 after he was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. He was suspended by both the club and the Football Association (FA) and spent four months in custody before being granted bail in early 2022. After his arrest, the club formally communicated that it would stop his wages, citing his inability to fulfill contractual obligations due to being remanded and suspended from football activities.
Mendy’s contract with City, signed in 2017 for £6 million annually, included significant bonuses for Champions League qualification, match participation, and image rights. However, after being charged, the club ceased all payments, leaving Mendy in financial difficulty. He disclosed that he had to rely on loans from teammates to cover his mounting expenses and legal fees, with his bank account nearly depleted and outstanding tax debts accumulating.
During the tribunal, Mendy argued that the club’s decision to withhold his wages violated the terms of his contract, which allowed only a six-week suspension of pay under specific conditions. He maintains that since he was falsely accused, he should not have been penalized financially. Mendy believes that the charges against him, which ultimately resulted in acquittal, were beyond his control and therefore should not have affected his income from the club.
City’s legal representatives have defended the club’s actions, emphasizing that Mendy’s conduct, including hosting unauthorized parties during lockdown, brought the club into disrepute. They argue that the club had the right to stop paying his salary due to his behavior, which allegedly interfered with his ability to play or train. The club contends that Mendy’s inability to perform his duties stemmed from his own actions, not just the legal proceedings.
Mendy claims that Manchester City initially assured his agent that the wages would be restored once he was cleared of all charges, but the club later backtracked. According to Mendy, Omar Berrada, then chief football operations officer, made informal assurances regarding the reinstatement of his salary but refused to put these promises in writing. When Mendy sought confirmation after his acquittal, his messages went unanswered, and the club directed him to its legal department.
The financial strain on Mendy intensified as he awaited trial. Documents submitted to the tribunal reveal that he struggled to manage his finances, with mounting debts, unpaid legal fees, and overdue mortgage payments. He also faced significant tax obligations and had to rely on friends for financial assistance. His contract with City had guaranteed substantial income, including image rights payments and bonuses, but the club’s decision to withhold his wages left him in a precarious position.
Mendy argues that the club’s actions were unfair, given that the false accusations prevented him from fulfilling his contractual obligations. He maintains that, had he not been arrested, he would have continued playing and earning his salary. In his statement, Mendy expressed disappointment at the club’s lack of acknowledgment or apology for the impact the situation had on his life and career. He insists that it is only fair for him to receive the wages he would have earned during the period when he was suspended.
During his time at City, Mendy missed 123 out of 240 possible games, partly due to injuries and later because of his legal troubles. His absence from the team and the negative publicity surrounding the allegations against him undoubtedly affected his career trajectory. Despite being cleared of all charges, Mendy feels that the damage to his reputation and finances was significant and irreversible.
The tribunal will determine whether Manchester City was justified in withholding Mendy’s wages or if the club breached his contract by suspending payments for an extended period. Mendy seeks to recover the unpaid wages and bonuses that he believes he is owed, arguing that the accusations against him were baseless and that his absence from football was beyond his control.
Manchester City’s legal team insists that the club acted appropriately, given the circumstances, and that Mendy’s behavior warranted disciplinary action. They argue that the club’s reputation was at stake due to the negative attention the allegations attracted and that Mendy’s actions contributed to the situation.
The case highlights the complexities of balancing contractual obligations with reputational concerns in professional sports. While Mendy’s acquittal has cleared his name legally, the fallout from the accusations continues to affect his career and finances. The tribunal’s decision will have implications not only for Mendy but also for how clubs handle similar situations involving players facing legal troubles.
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