Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy was charged with four counts of rape and one of sexual assault

(CNN) – Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy was charged by Cheshire Police with four counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

The Crown Prosecution (CPS, for its acronym in English) says that the alleged events took place in Cheshire, north-west England, between October 2020 and August 2021 and refer to three whistleblowers over 16 years of age.

“Mendy, of Withinlee Road, Prestbury, is in pre-trial detention and will appear in Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, August 27, 2021,” the CPS statement said.

In a published statement on the club’s websiteManchester City said Mendy “was suspended pending an investigation”.

“The matter is subject to legal process and, therefore, the Club cannot comment further until that process is complete,” the statement said.

CNN contacted representatives for Mendy, but has not received an immediate response.