Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy faces trial over dog attack on teenager in 2023 | OneFootball

As reported by MARCA, a court in Alcobendas, Madrid, has ordered Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy to stand trial over an incident in which one of his dogs allegedly attacked a 17-year-old boy and two other dogs after escaping from his property in January 2023.

The French international faces charges relating to injuries caused by the incident, with prosecutors and the victim’s legal representatives seeking different penalties.

Different penalties requested

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged Mendy with a minor offense of causing injury and is requesting a fine of €1,200.

However, the private prosecution representing the injured teenager, handled by law firm 99 Abogados, is seeking a significantly harsher sentence. It argues that Mendy committed a serious offense through gross negligence and is requesting six months in prison.

On January 7, an investigating judge in Alcobendas issued the order to proceed to trial and required Mendy to post a €7,410 bond to cover the various compensation claims.

Mendy to stand trial. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The case will be heard by Madrid Criminal Court No. 26, although a trial date has not yet been scheduled.

What happened?

According to the prosecution, the events took place on January 4, 2023. Four dogs belonging to Mendy allegedly escaped from his home on an exclusive residential street in Alcobendas after the property gate was left open when a vehicle entered.

One of the dogs allegedly approached a woman walking her dachshund and attacked the smaller dog, biting it in the back. The injuries were so severe that the dachshund later had to be euthanized.

A 17-year-old boy attempted to assist the woman and was bitten on his left leg during the incident.

The German Shorthaired Pointer he was walking also suffered injuries to its neck and chest and later required surgery.

Alleged failures in Animal Control

According to the prosecution, the four dogs did not have identification microchips, lacked the legally required liability insurance and had not been vaccinated against rabies.

Prosecutors argue that Mendy, who is recovering from an injury, failed in his legal duty to properly supervise and control the animals.

Mendy is currently injured. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

They allege that he neglected the level of care expected from “a reasonably diligent person” by failing to ensure that the property’s gate had been securely closed after a vehicle entered.

As a result, the dogs allegedly remained loose in the street without supervision, creating what prosecutors describe as a concrete danger to both people and other animals.

Compensation claims

The Public Prosecutor’s Office is requesting that Mendy compensate the victims as follows:

€450 to the owner of the dachshund that later died, €4,970 to the injured teenager for his physical injuries and permanent scars and €240 to the owner of the injured German Shorthaired Pointer to cover veterinary expenses.

The private prosecution is seeking substantially higher damages, requesting €20,000 for the injured teenager and €2,500 for the owner of the second injured dog.

The case will now proceed to trial, where the court will determine whether Mendy bears criminal responsibility for the alleged negligence and the injuries resulting from the incident.