Manchester City respond to Benjamin Mendy’s New Year’s Eve Covid-19 breach with 8 positive tests now recorded
Last Updated: January 3, 2021 2:22 pm
Mendy breaches regulations
Manchester City have released a statement, confirming that they are aware of French left back Benjamin Mendy’s Covid-19 breach. The former Monaco full-back is reported to have broken Covid regulations during a New Year’s Eve event:
“The club is aware of a New Year’s Eve covid-19 breach involving Benjamin Mendy and the subsequent media reporting of it. While it is understood that elements of this incident have been misinterpreted in the reports, and that he player has publicly apologised for his error, the club is disappointed to learn of the transgression and will be conducting an internal investigation,” read the statement.
“the player has publicly apologised for his error, the club is disappointed to learn of the transgression and will be conducting an internal investigation.”
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) January 3, 2021
The news comes amid further reports of positive tests in the Manchester City camp, with the number having now reached a concerning 8. The scheduled meeting between City and Everton was of course recently called off, due to the number of cases at the northwest club.
Just in: #ManCity have had another positive Covid-19 test returned from Friday’s testing – taking the total number at the club to eight. @ManCity were tested again today, with the results expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
[via @SunMartinB]
— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 2, 2021
The next side whom City are due to face are Chelsea, later today at 16:30. Any potential postponing of the game may not be revealed until mere hours before kick-off, as proved the case for Fulham’s rescheduled meeting with Tottenham.
Benjamin Mendy also requested for a modelling agent to send girls from London to visit him in Cheshire. Mendy declared he wanted a “big bum Latina” in one message, however there is no suggestion the agent sent any girls.
[@SunSport / Exclusive]
— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 2, 2021
Mendy’s apology
Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus are the only City stars to have tested positive who have since had their identities revealed. However, when taking into account the seriousness of the situation at the Etihad, Mendy’s actions become all the more inexcusable.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Manchester City and Dinamo Zagreb at Etihad Stadium on October 01, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus)
The Frenchman has since released an apology, but the club’s investigation remains ongoing:
“The club is aware of a New Year’s Eve covid-19 breach involving Benjamin Mendy and the subsequent media reporting of it,” said a Man City spokesperson.
“While it is understood that elements of this incident have been misinterpreted in the reports, and that the player has publicly apologised for his error, the club is disappointed to learn of the transgression and will be conducting an internal investigation.”
Despite the recently approved vaccine now being rolled out, the restrictions in place to stem the spread of the virus in the UK remain serious, with even harsher measures expected to be announced when the Prime Minister next addresses the media.
Sun on Sunday front page leads with a #ManCity story
Exclusive: Covidiot Mendy
FOUL! City ace has party after team get bug #Mendy #MCFC #ManCity #TomorrowsPaperToday #frontpagestoday pic.twitter.com/sbf2Aik3SL— ⓒⓕ (@cfbcity) January 3, 2021
Kieran Trippier banned for 10 weeks after breaching betting regulations and will miss Chelsea clash
Controversy at Crystal Palace as Luka Milivojević starts vs Sheffield United, despite breaking Covid protocols on NYE
This article was edited by Conor Laird.
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| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 32 | 44 | 74 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 31 | 27 | 63 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 31 | 18 | 56 |
| 4 | West Ham United FC | 31 | 12 | 55 |
| 5 | Chelsea FC | 31 | 19 | 54 |
| 6 | Liverpool FC | 31 | 16 | 52 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 31 | 17 | 49 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 30 | 3 | 48 |
| 9 | Arsenal FC | 31 | 8 | 45 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 31 | 0 | 45 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 30 | 10 | 44 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 31 | -10 | 38 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 31 | -19 | 38 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 31 | -17 | 36 |
| 15 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 31 | -5 | 33 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 31 | -17 | 33 |
| 17 | Newcastle United FC | 31 | -19 | 32 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 32 | -18 | 26 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 31 | -31 | 24 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 31 | -38 | 14 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 19 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 19 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 16 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 14 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 14 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 14 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 9 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 9 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 9 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 7 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 7 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 7 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 6 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 7 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Targett, Matt | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Holgate, Mason | Everton FC | 0 | 7 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 6 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Neto, Pedro | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 6 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
