BREAKING: Tension at Etihad; Manchester City star player faces jail term as club makes statement

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with rape and sexual assault.

Mendy has been charged with three counts of rape in October 2020, the sexual assault of a woman in January 2021 and the rape of a woman in August this year.

The 27-year-old, who was wearing a red hoodie and black jogging bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the brief hearing at Cheshire Magistrates

Proceedings were related back to the French international via an interpreter.

No pleas were given, and an application for bail of the City defender as made by his lawyer was rejected.

The charges relate to three alleged complainants, one of who is aged under 18.

All the incidents are alleged to have taken place at his £5m home address in Prestbury, Cheshire.

Mendy is also charged with breaking his bail conditions in August.

A court listing said that after being released on July 26 this year, he broke a condition by having more than four people at his home.

The former Monaco star was first arrested at his home in Prestbury, Cheshire last November.

He has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52 million.

He has been suspended from the team pending the investigation.

Police have asked the public not to speculate on the case.

A spokesman said: ‘Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Mendy are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.’

In a statement, Manchester City said: ‘Manchester City can confirm that following his being charged by police today, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation.

‘The matter is subject to a legal process and the club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.’