Sexual assault charges associated with a professional footballer often spell career suicide or a permanent scarlet letter. For Benjamin Mendy, it appears to be a combination of both.
After winning the Ligue 1 title with Monaco, Manchester City signed Benjamin Mendy for £52 million in 2017, setting a world record for a defender at the time.
Mendy enjoyed a promising start at Manchester City, winning the Premier League in his first season. However, the instant success and fame in football’s top league quickly turned into a nightmare for him.
Point of No Return: Labeled a Rapist
Accusations of raping a 24-year-old woman at his Cheshire home in 2020 and the attempted rape of a 29-year-old woman two years earlier destroyed Mendy’s image. Following his arrest in 2021, Manchester City suspended his contract, effectively branding him with a scarlet letter.
Legal proceedings began in August 2021, but the damage to Mendy’s reputation was already done. The accusations alone were enough to tarnish his image for life.
Charged with eight counts of rape, one of attempted rape, and one of sexual assault, Mendy proclaimed his innocence from the start. However, public opinion had already turned against him. For any footballer, facing sexual assault charges is a lose-lose situation.
The financial impact was severe. Mendy spent millions on legal fees, sold his mansion to avoid bankruptcy, and is suing Manchester City to recoup his losses.
In the prime of his career, Mendy was cleared of the charges in 2023, and a retrial cleared him of further charges. Despite this, many still view Mendy as a serial rapist, regardless of the court’s verdict.
A Not Guilty Verdict Ignored
Mendy now plays for Ligue 1 side Lorient. In their final game of the season, Mendy was told to ‘get away’ from the club and was called a ‘rapist’ by angry supporters, who also booed him as he left the stadium.
Despite being legally cleared, Mendy will forever be associated with the word ‘rape,’ a virtual death sentence for athletes. No brand or football club wants to be associated with a perceived rapist.
The fairness of Mendy’s recent treatment is debatable. While women in society must be protected from sexual predators, the question remains: where is the protection for footballers from potentially predatory accusations?
By Krestin Harrington