Benjamin Mendy, a French footballer accused of rape, was released on bail

The French defender of the Manchester City Benjamin Mendy, accused of seven rapes and one sexual assault, was released on bail by the British justice on Friday with precautionary measures including the delivery of his passport.

Judge Patrick Thompson decided in a hearing at the Court of Chester, in the north-west of England, to release the 27-year-old player, world champion in 2018, who had been in preventive detention since the end of August.

Mendy, who was charged by five women with seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault, has been in pretrial detention since he was arrested and charged on August 26.

The events date back to the period between October 2020 and August 2021 and one of the women was a minor.

Although it was initially scheduled for January 24, his trial will not be held until June 27 or August 1 for procedural reasons, the magistrate said. Mendy is due to appear again later this month to have his bail re-examined.

As recalled, after his arrest he was suspended by the Premier League champion club pending the result of the criminal proceedings.

Mendy was held at Altcourse Prison in Liverpool before being recently transferred to a Manchester prison. If he pleads not guilty and is convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.