"The process is the punishment" - Tristan Tate reacts after ex-Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy is found not guilty in rape trial

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty by a Chester Crown Court jury on charges of rape and attempted rape. This has spurned a number of reactions from social media users, including kickboxer and socialite Tristan Tate.

The former Cityzens' player stood trial for allegations that he violated a 24-year-old woman's trust in a bedroom of his Cheshire residence in the fall of 2020. Additionally, an accusation of an attempted rape involving a 29-year-old woman two years prior at the same property, was levelled at him.

However, a jury composed of an even split of men and women decided in Mendy's favor. The footballer, who categorically refuted all charges, reiterated his stand on the encounters being consensual.

Earlier this year, he had already been absolved of various other sexual offences, though the jury had found themselves at a crossroads, unable to determine a verdict on these two particular charges.

Internet celebrity and Andrew Tate's brother Tristan Tate took to Twitter to share his reaction on the former Manchester City defender's verdict:

Mendy's career saw a meteoric rise when he became the most expensive defender in Premier League history, courtesy of a whopping £52 million deal in 2017 that saw him move to the blue half of Manchester.

He clinched three titles with Manchester City after his move from Monaco and also had a taste of global glory as a crucial part of France's World Cup-winning squad in 2018.

However, the challenges off the pitch saw his contract with Manchester City not being renewed, and he was released at the end of June. Upon exiting the court, Benjamin Mendy's solicitor, Jenny Wiltshire, delivered a statement on his behalf. It read (via Sky Sports):

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