Acquittal, But To What End? - Mendy, Greenwood

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My people will say, when the world is raving about you, be careful how you thread. This is not to say you shouldn't bask in the euphoria of your success, however, this simply explains the predicament of both Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy and Manchester United's Mason Greenwood.

Coincidentally, not until I was penning this, it never really occurred to me that both players are from the either side of Manchester. Sadly, their lives aren't as bright as the colours of their club sides.

It looks just like yesterday when Greenwood scored his first premier league goal for United in November 2019 against Sheffield United. A goal that took the game level at 2-2 in an eventual 3-3 draw. How such a promising star has dimmed and potentially, may never hit the horizons earlier expected.

His alleged involvement in coercive behaviour and attempted rape of his girlfriend, Harriet Robson was the beginning of his downfall, a predicament he is yet to fully bounce back from.

Although he was eventually acquitted as there were no sufficient evidence to nail him, he is yet to get his career back on track.

On the blue side of Manchester is French left back, Benjamin Mendy who joined Manchester City in his burgeoning career in 2017, arriving already as a millionaire and a Ligue 1 champion.

Having arrived as the most expensive defender then on a £52 million deal, He thought he had his life ahead of him until disaster struck in 2021 when he was arraigned on a six-count charge of rape and one count of sexual assault.

After about two separate trials, he has been found not guilty of these charges. Reading through the details of the case, it was glaring that he was innocent from the outset. Thank God for the CCTV in his house, providing much needed evidence. But, imagine it too over two years to acquit an innocent.

While Greenwood is still on the books of United, although he is yet to be integrated back into the team with speculations rife about a potential move away from the club, Mendy has not been so lucky. In fact, Greenwood now has a baby with the same woman for whom his career has been put to a halt.

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After Mendy was arraigned, Nike pulled his endorsement deal, City stopped paying his salary, he sold off his property and now, he's clubless as City have released him following the expiration of his contract in June. Not that he'd even stand a chance to break back into Pep Guardiola's side anyway.

With both players finally acquitted, what good will this acquittal do them? Will it give them back the useful part of their years taken away by things they were eventually found out not to be guilty of? Is it just okay to tell them "sorry" and expect that their lives return to normal? Funny thing is, in the Mendy case, the identity of the women who accused him have been kept private.

What becomes of the lives of two promising talents while their accusers walk around in total freedom? How about a system that punishes wrong accusers, especially when the accused have had their lives derailed for something they did not do. Is this what a justice system should look like?

As much as I have tried to look at both incidents distinctively, is it just a coincidental that both affected players are blacks? Would it have been the same outcome if they were white and even English?

I tried as much not to play the race card, especially in these scenarios, but the system looks like it leaves one with no other option. I remember how the jury in Ryan Giggs case of assault and abuse was hurriedly discharged after about 22 hours of deliberation in August 2022 as they couldn't come to an agreement on whether he was guilty, and even when asked if they could reach an agreement given more time, the jury said no. Again, their race may or may not have played a role in this, it just leaves more begging for answers.

I hope both men can get their lives back. Nothing can compensate for the last few years lost, but they should just keep fighting because, importantly, their names have been cleared and I believe they can still get their careers back on track.

Will you mind your club signing either of them?