Benjamin Mendy has secured a significant legal victory against Manchester City, winning the majority of the £11 million he claimed in unpaid wages while facing rape charges.
This ruling comes after the French footballer was acquitted of all charges in a retrial last year.
Background of the Case
Mendy had been accused of raping a woman at his £4 million mansion and attempting to rape another woman.
Following his arrest in 2021, Manchester City suspended Mendy’s £500,000 monthly salary.
In response, the player took the Premier League club to an employment tribunal, claiming the club had unlawfully deducted his wages.
Details of the Tribunal’s Decision
Mendy’s claim, amounting to roughly £11 million before tax, was largely upheld.
However, the tribunal noted that he spent around five months in custody during the 22-month period in question, meaning he won’t receive the full amount.
The exact sum he is entitled to will either be agreed upon by both parties or decided at a future hearing.
Mendy expressed his satisfaction with the tribunal’s decision, stating, “Having had to wait for three years for my wages, I am delighted with the decision.
I sincerely hope that the club will now do the honourable thing and pay the outstanding amounts without further delay.”
The Dispute with Manchester City
The tribunal revealed that Manchester City had continued paying Mendy after his first arrest in November 2020.
However, when Mendy was arrested again in 2021, the club stopped his wages, arguing that he was not “ready and able to perform the obligations of his contract.”
Mendy contended that he was assured by City’s then-chief operating officer Omar Berrada that he would be paid once acquitted, but despite attempts to get clarification, Mendy received no response from City’s leadership.
Mendy also shared that during this period, his teammates Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez helped him financially, while he had to sell his Cheshire mansion to cover legal fees and other expenses.
City’s Argument and Mendy’s Response
In court, Manchester City argued that Mendy’s actions, including throwing parties during lockdown and breaching his bail conditions, were responsible for the situation.
City’s legal representative, Sean Jones KC, claimed that Mendy was attempting to use his behavior to justify his entitlement to pay, despite the consequences of his actions.
Life After Manchester City
Following the end of his contract with City in 2023, Mendy returned to France to play for Lorient in Ligue 2.
His time with Manchester City ended after the rape allegations emerged in 2021.
After being cleared in his retrial, Mendy expressed his relief and gratitude to the jury for focusing on the evidence.
“I thank everyone who has supported me throughout this ordeal,” Mendy said. “Now I can begin rebuilding my life.”
Mendy’s legal battle and subsequent victory bring a long chapter of personal and professional turmoil to a close, with the player now looking forward to moving forward in his career.
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