Benjamin Mendy is set to return to competitive football, 763 days after his last professional match, on August 15, 2021, against Tottenham. The left-back was acquitted on July 14 of the last charges of rape and attempted rape which had been brought against him in England. For the first time since, he was included in the FC Lorient squad, ahead of the match against AS Monaco (ASM) on Sunday, September 17, at 1 pm French time.
The Ligue 1 fixture was already the talk of the town on Friday after a number of messages were discovered in the streets of Lorient, using A4 sheets of paper glued to walls, in a protest technique associated with French feminist movements. One attacked Mendy, who signed a two-year contract with the club just five days after his acquittal: "Mendy in the bars, malaise in Lorient."
Another took aim at Monaco's captain Wissam Ben Yedder: "Red card for Ben Yedder." The striker was charged in early August with rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault, and placed under judicial supervision. He denies the accusations.
Mendy, Ben Yedder and Achraf Hakimi – the Paris Saint-Germain full-back under investigation for accusations of rape – had previously been the targets of such messages in Lorient on August 19, when the team played its first home match of the season. The campaign was led by Collectif2Lorient, a recently founded group that wants "Mendy and all other rapists and assaulters excluded from clubs" and points out that "in France, only 1% of rapists are convicted."
FC Lorient had lodged a complaint for defamation following the collages of August 19. Contacted by Le Monde regarding Friday's incidents, the club stated that "this time there [was no basis] to justify a complaint. We would, of course, lodge another complaint if any defamatory remarks appeared." Acquitted in England after two trials, Mendy has been a controversial presence since his arrival at Lorient.
His signing, on July 19, came as a surprise. Faced with an influx of visitors, the club's website almost crashed, while criticism spread on social media. Since then, public opinion on the recruit has diverged. "If you look at the sporting side, it's an incredible coup for Lorient. But in terms of image, it doesn't look like a club that wants to be family-oriented, discreet and friendly. His arrival almost distorts the club's image," said Maxime, a Lorient supporter who has been a season ticket holder at Le Moustoir since 2006.
Present at several of Lorient's preseason matches without playing, the 2018 world champion was able to measure his popularity by taking selfies with the fans in attendance. In fact, the number 5 jersey, printed with Mendy's name, has been Lorient's best-selling shirt since the start of the season.
"We have to take the court ruling at face value. We can't start a new trial," said Régis Le Bris, Lorient's coach, on July 21. Lorient has continued to defend this position and found support from Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who told France Info: "Justice was served, and we have to respect that. (...) If when you are acquitted, it generates the same suspicion as when you are accused, then we lose the meaning of justice."
In Monaco, there is less closure concerning Ben Yedder's case. Initially placed under investigation at the beginning of August for offenses dating back to early July, the player was placed under judicial supervision after posting bail of €900,000, as the Nice prosecutor's office, which requested his detention, told Agence France-Presse. The French international is now the second-top scorer in the league so far this season (4 goals) and continues to wear the captain's armband.
"I find it a little surprising that the armband was [not reassigned], at the very least. I'm not going to say anymore, the courts have to decide. (...) But I think it's important to mark the occasion and show our disapproval," said Oudéa-Castéra, on September 10, TV5 Monde's "Internationales" program produced in partnership with Le Monde.
By way of comparison, Manchester United recently placed its player Antony on leave of absence. The Brazilian is under investigation for repeated assaults on his former girlfriend. At the end of August, the same club parted company with Mason Greenwood, even though he was cleared of charges of attempted rape.
Contacted by Le Monde, AS Monaco referred to its initial statement of July 13: "As the matter is subject to legal proceedings, the club is not in a position to comment." A possible sanction against the captain, presumed innocent by his club, is therefore not on the agenda. Speaking to RMC on Wednesday, Monaco's football director Thiago Scuro explained the club's position: "As a club, we're giving him the opportunity to continue working. We'll see what the courts decide."
The case has elicited little reaction from supporters. "We don't want to be interviewed about our captain, except to talk about his sporting exploits," said a member of an ASM supporters' group, who wished not to be named. On the other hand, Ben Yedder was booed by Clermont fans on August 13, during the first match of the season, when he scored a brace.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.