Credit: Twitter
Slogans were displayed close to the Lorient stadium, specifically criticising Benjamin Mendy, who was recently cleared of all charges of rape and attempted rape by British justice. Apart from Mendy, Lorient fans also reportedly chanted slogans against Achraf Hakimi and Wissam Ben Yedder.
Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of rape and attempted rape by British justice on Friday, July 14. He had previously been cleared of six allegations of rape and one charge of sexual assault. To everyone's astonishment, the former Manchester City defender joined FC Lorient after being completely cleared.
When Benjamin Mendy arrived after being released from Manchester City it did not make everyone happy at FC Lorient. Despite being cleared before returning to France, the French international's popularity rating fell after he was indicted for sexual assault two years ago.
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The Lorient fans voiced their displeasure with banners posted in front of the Stade du Moustoir this past Saturday, the day before the team's first home match against Nice. We might be able to read one of them, "Summer sales, -50% on rapists." The signs were all taken down before kickoff on Sunday at 3 p.m.
"No rapists in our stadiums. Let the world of football and sport clean up their ranks" or "What does the court do? Benjamin Mendy, Achraf Hakimi, Wissam Ben Yedder, neither forgotten nor forgiven," could we read. The Parisian Achraf Hakimi and Wissam Ben Yedder have also had sexual harassment allegations against them in the past.
Before being freed at the start of January 2022 and placed under judicial supervision before his initial trial, Benjamin Mendy had been detained towards the end of August 2021 and had spent more than four months in pre-trial imprisonment.
The 2018 world champion, who is now free, has not yet made his debut for FC Lorient. It must be acknowledged that the former Marseillais hasn't played professional football in over two years.