Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy thought he could "ignore all the rules" but his own behaviour led to him losing his £500,000 a month wages, a tribunal heard.
Mr Mendy, 30, is claiming at an Employment Tribunal he is owed £11.5 million in unpaid salary the club withheld from him after he was charged with sex offences. The French international and World Cup winner was later cleared of all charges after two trials.
But Sean Jones KC, representing Man City, told the tribunal Mr Mendy only had himself to blame for not being paid because of his own behaviour of womanising, partying, often during lockdown, along with breaking bail conditions leading to his arrest and stay in jail.
Mr Jones said Mr Mendy was arguing his contract of employment created a "moral hazard" for his employers.
He said: "That he is in a position where he should be in a position to say, and does say: 'I can behave as irresponsibly as I like. I can ignore all rules, both legal and common sense.
"'To the point that my behaviour results in me being placed in prison and thus unable to perform any of my duties, that should in no way affect my entitlement to pay.'
"In other words, there's to be no consequence for his behaviour."
Mr Jones said in September 2020, the then-government imposed the "Rule of Six" Covid restrictions, but on October 6, Mr Mendy held a party at his home, The Spinney, in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, and police were called.
He said anyone else would think they had been lucky and had a "narrow escape" - but Mr Mendy held another party the next day, where a rape allegation was made against him.
Mr Jones added: "At that point he's been engaging for years in highly risky behaviour, bringing home women for sex while knowing very little about them.
"He consciously ignored his legal obligations, both to the club, and under Covid regulations and under bail conditions and he ignored the advice of the people closest to him, including his agent."
Mr Jones said by January 2021 Mr Mendy was facing two serious sexual allegations, he was on bail and the UK was in national lockdown.
He said the club had told him "no parties", his bail conditions meant no parties, Covid rules meant no parties, and his agent told him: "No more parties."
Instead, he held another party where a woman made another allegation against him.
"This is a man, who, he told you, could not care less what the rules did," Mr Jones added.
But his "luck ran out" finally in August 2021, when following a further allegation, a judge remanded him in custody and the club stopped paying him.
Mr Jones said once Mr Mendy had been remanded into custody he was unable to train or play for Man City - his "core duties" as an employee of the club.
But also after he was later released on bail, his bail conditions, with curfew hours, prevented him training or playing for his club.
Nick De Marco KC, representing Mr Mendy, said: "This is not a case about moral culpability. He is a young man who has already paid a very high price, for the mistakes he admits he has made.
"He partied too much and too often. Very often with other high-profile members of Manchester City's team.
"As a result of allegations that turned out to have all been dismissed, he spent over four months in custody. Time he can never get back."
Mr Mendy was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January 2023, but the same jury could not reach a verdict on another count of rape and one count of attempted rape.
It saw a retrial and Mr Mendy was found not guilty of one charge of rape and one charge of attempted rape.
Tribunal Judge Joanne Dunlop said she expected to give a ruling on Mr Mendy's claim in around four weeks.
bamadiloty
2
I think if he was convicted then he doesn’t need to be paid but in this case he is not guilty so Man City must pay
BallySen
0
So to be Manchester city player mean you got no life to live anymore 😪, Even to fuck you most ask the club permission, Rubbish pay the Man that's it , Can City board tell us what they doing in they life ?
Then just tell him to be walking without trousers.
BallySen
0
U can't tell him what to do and not to do with his money. That's absurd
That's the result he's ripping off, lack does & don't.
ZéléSaichis
0
A stubborn player and more
fonclmnty
0
https://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=xl-G2RVkThLT8Oobhttps://youtu.be/T0SZXB0Ifuk?si=1TywI-O7KumL4zMjhttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=xl-G2RVkThLT8Oobhttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=iXIv_h6ryNSmfnVFSORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamadohttps://youtu.be/ym0RaZUv7OM?si=pToNPxxsh7a2Yuj3https://youtu.be/noPq5lNIR3E?si=axaNEGQtz-Awra_Hhttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=wxfnrLLFrn6mCIwK
fonclmnty
0
SORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamado
fonclmnty
0
https://youtu.be/T0SZXB0Ifuk?si=1TywI-O7KumL4zMjhttps://youtu.be/T0SZXB0Ifuk?si=1TywI-O7KumL4zMjhttps://youtu.be/T0SZXB0Ifuk?si=1TywI-O7KumL4zMjhttps://youtu.be/T0SZXB0Ifuk?si=1TywI-O7KumL4zMjhttps://youtu.be/ym0RaZUv7OM?si=pToNPxxsh7a2Yuj3https://youtu.be/ym0RaZUv7OM?si=pToNPxxsh7a2Yuj3https://youtu.be/ym0RaZUv7OM?si=pToNPxxsh7a2Yuj3https://youtu.be/ym0RaZUv7OM?si=pToNPxxsh7a2Yuj3SORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamadoSORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamadoSORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamadoSORY UNITED TUCHEL waxaa uu isbuucaan noqonayaa macalinka Cusub England 58 sano wadan koob la,aan ayaa la rabaa inuu xitaa halkoo koob ugu cimaamadohttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=iXIv_h6ryNSmfnVFhttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=iXIv_h6ryNSmfnVFhttps://youtu.be/LZP6PDioX-Y?si=iXIv_h6ryNSmfnVF
Muedimoruz
0
U can't tell him what to do and not to do with his money. That's absurd
Rikbiklmu
2
The consequence of your careless
Cukaknort
0
I think the club is not to be blamed I blame mendy for his behaviour
can you tell us about yourself behavior? Mandy was doing all that in he house 🏠, so to have a good time in private he most ask the club because he sign the contract under remote control 🤣.
Cukaknort
0
So to be Manchester city player mean you got no life to live anymore 😪, Even to fuck you most ask the club permission, Rubbish pay the Man that's it , Can City board tell us what they doing in they life ?
zimbabimba
0
He won't see a dime for the time he was jailed 100%
pythagorasofficial
0
See excuses.
poybcdlpuy
0
Mendy over like fucking that’s why man city sent him out
Yuwbcdmtz
0
Mendy signed a contract with City. Did the contract state that his salary will not be paid if he was found parting or womanising or break COVID rules? Nah. . Please, it is his right to earn his wages based on the contract he signed up with City. Otherwise you would have tried to terminate the contract the moment he was found parting, womanising or broken COVID rules
I think the club is not to be blamed I blame mendy for his behaviour
Hesdlouy
0
so na una go tell him wetin him go use him money do abby ,una papa
Tawbelpty
4
they should pay him his money 💰
TiyanjaneChalamwendo
2
pay him please
Nenacnopt
1
Mendy signed a contract with City. Did the contract state that his salary will not be paid if he was found parting or womanising or break COVID rules? Nah. . Please, it is his right to earn his wages based on the contract he signed up with City. Otherwise you would have tried to terminate the contract the moment he was found parting, womanising or broken COVID rules
contract was he should be paid after performing his duties now the question is did he perform those duties ? if yes let him get paid if not then no reason of payment
Dekabdekt
0
bcz he is black right?
nope.. because you are white
rombceikmo
1
bcz he is black right?
catbdeikpz
1
Why? I wonder how irresponsible this Mendy is! He is so reckless. Contractual He can't play too much with contractual agreement. It is not a jock.
aweja
0
city make una pay his money with speed of light una want stay under covid rules and party exscuses not pay his salary
Kipcinrs
3
This is too low for a successful club like City. When is FA charge coming? I was always supportive of fair play saying Fa should leave City alone . Now I can say if thy guilty charge them
EzeJustine
2
man city please pay him his money to avoid future problems from football bodies
Charlesugwu
6
Mendy signed a contract with City. Did the contract state that his salary will not be paid if he was found parting or womanising or break COVID rules? Nah. . Please, it is his right to earn his wages based on the contract he signed up with City. Otherwise you would have tried to terminate the contract the moment he was found parting, womanising or broken COVID rules
Badhur
6
Give the man his money you idiots
oladokunrichard2324
5
Oga make una pay him his Money he's on a contract and it should have been mutually terminated when you know you can't pay his wages when in custody