Benjamin Mendy wins £11m claim against Manchester City for unpaid wages

Benjamin Mendy has successfully won the majority of his £11million claim against Manchester City for unpaid wages, after the club stopped paying his salary when he was charged with sex offences, an Employment Tribunal judge has ruled.

The left-back was suspended by City in August 2021 following his arrest on multiple sex offence charges, including rape.

Mendy was remanded in custody for five months, during which time the club withheld his salary until the end of his contract in June 2023.

However, in January 2023, Mendy was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault following a lengthy trial.

In July 2023, he was also acquitted of one count of rape and another of attempted rape in a retrial.

To cover his legal fees, bills, and child support payments, Mendy had to sell his Cheshire mansion, with the court hearing that former team-mates such as Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva had supported him financially.

Employment Judge Joanne Dunlop concluded that Mendy is “entitled to recover some, but not all, of the sums claimed” following a hearing at Manchester Employment Tribunal.

Ms Dunlop stated that while Benjamin Mendy was not in custody at the time, he was “ready and willing” to work but was “prevented from doing so by circumstances that were unavoidable or involuntary on his part.”

“In those circumstances, and absent any authorisation in the contract for the employer to withhold pay, he was entitled to be paid.”

Following the ruling, Mr. Mendy is entitled to receive the majority of his unpaid salary, though not the full amount.

The exact sum will be determined either by Mr. Mendy and the club through mutual agreement or at a future hearing if they are unable to reach an agreement.

In a statement provided to the employment tribunal last month, the footballer, who is currently playing for Lorient in the French second tier, said: “Several Manchester City first-team players, including the club captain, were all present at the parties that I attended and hosted.

“We all drank alcohol. We all had casual relations with women. We all breached Covid-19 restrictions.

“This does not excuse my behaviour, but I feel that it is unfair for Manchester City to single me out in the way that they have.

“The difference between me and the other Manchester City players is that I was the one that was falsely accused of rape and publicly humiliated.”

Mendy added: “I was just as ready, willing and able to perform my duties as the other Manchester City players that Manchester City knew attended the parties, and on Manchester City’s account, acted recklessly.

“I am not, however, aware of Manchester City deducting or suspending the pay of any of the other players even when it was public knowledge that such players had attended the parties.

“I do, therefore, feel it incredibly unjust that Manchester City effectively singled me out from the team when I was doing nothing different to the rest of the team.”

Mendy also revealed that three of his teammates, two of whom have since moved to different clubs, offered him financial support during the period when he was not receiving payment.

“Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez all lent me money to help me try and pay my legal fees and support my family,” he added.

Read more: Arne Slot makes Luis Diaz claim after hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen

Arne Slot salutes intensity and tactical flexibility of Liverpool against Bayer Leverkusen

Pep Guardiola sends warning new incoming Man United coach Ruben Amorim