Mendy comes on for Lorient, first match in two years after sex trial acquittal

Mason Greenwood makes first Getafe appearance

Benjamin Mendy, acquitted in a sex offences trial in England in July, came on for Lorient on Sunday for his first game in two years.

The 29-year-old ex-Manchester City and France defender was introduced in the 70th minute of Lorient’s 2-2 French Ligue 1 draw against Monaco.

His last competitive game before this was back in August 2021 in the Premier League for City against Tottenham. 

Mendy’s acquittal two months ago ended a three-year court process.

He signed for Lorient a week after his trial ended.

The player, who would have faced a lengthy jail term if convicted, had previously being cleared in January of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault following a six-month trial.

Jurors in that trial had been unable to reach a verdict on two other counts, triggering the retrial.

Mendy, whose contract with English and European champions Manchester City expired at the end of June, denied all the charges against him.

Mendy has 10 international caps and was part of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup.

In Spain, Mason Greenwood made his debut for Getafe on Sunday in La Liga as a substitute against Osasuna, the first time he has played since appearing for Manchester United in January 2022.

The English striker, on loan at Getafe from the Premier League side, was charged with attempted rape and assault in October 2022 but the charges were later dropped.

England’s Crown Prosecution Service said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light, removing a “realistic prospect of conviction”.

Getafe coach Jose Bordalas sent Greenwood on for Juanmi Latasa in the 77th minute with the score tied at 2-2, to applause from home fans at the club’s Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium.

The Madrid side signed the 21-year-old on loan on September 1, with Bordalas pledging to help him “recover his best level” and rebuild his career.

Greenwood, who made his Manchester United debut aged 17 and has played 129 times for the club, has a contract at Old Trafford until 2025.

The English side conducted a six-month internal investigation into Greenwood and decided he should continue his career elsewhere.