The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

For as long as I can remember, they have played the bridesmaid, the supporting actor role when it comes to the actual movie. France’s Ligue 1 has been a League that usually sees its top talent taken away from it by the wealthier teams in England, Italy and Spain.

Ligue 1, however, is genuinely starting to become a place where players can resurrect their careers. Former Manchester United player Paul Pogba and former Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy, who now play for Monaco and Lorient, respectively.

In the case of Pogba, he had a reduced drugs ban, and Mendy was cleared of allegedly raping a woman. If my knowledge serves me correctly, all charges were dropped against the former Monaco man.

Man City had already terminated his contract by then and also suspended him. The man has been treated as guilty before having the chance to prove his innocence.

The Premier League may be the best in the world, but it lacked clubs willing to give an innocent man a chance to excel at something he’s good at: playing football to a very high standard.

Lorient from Ligue 1 were the only club actually to put their money where their mouth is. It takes a real leap of faith for a football club to do that, to give players a second chance.

Again, to emphasise in Mendy’s case, as harsh as it is to say that he’s getting a second chance, that’s the sad fact. It’s not the 29-year-old’s fault he lost his first chance to make a career out of football.

In the case of Pogba, numerous clubs were reportedly ready to sign him, but Monaco was the team that put their money where their mouth was. Paul Pogba and Benjamin Mendy both served their time; one was more unfortunate than the other, but both needed someone or some club to believe in them.

Pogba and Mendy both have the same thing in common: a French club showed faith in them. The Premier League might be the best in the world, but France believes in people.

Which could also be said about my next example, Mason Greenwood. The soon-to-be Jamaican International Greenwood was cleared of allegedly raping his girlfriend.

Since then, it has been stated that the couple has had a baby together, and it appears they’re happy. This court case has divided fierce opinions. Although it’s not our job to be judge and jury, I can express the view that another French club, Olympique Marseille, supported a professional footballer in getting a second chance.

This example might not be the best way to demonstrate my point, but the general feeling is there. French football gives players a chance, something the so-called best League in the world should do.

In other forms of life, different lines of work, you are entitled to a second chance, depending on the crime, of course, that’s agreeable to have that in place, but football, the Premier League, is too dismissive.

That’s harsh .. in my opinion.

For as long as I can remember, they have played the bridesmaid, the supporting actor role when it comes to the actual movie. France’s Ligue1 has been a League that usually sees their top talent taken away from it by the more wealthy teams in England, Italy and Spain.

Ligue 1 however is genuinely starting to become a place where players can resurrect their careers. Former Manchester United player Paul Pogba and former Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy who now play for Monaco and Lorient respectively.

In the case of Pogba, he had a reduced drugs ban and Mendy was cleared of allegedly raping a woman. If my knowledge serves me correctly, all charges were dropped against the former Monaco man.

Man City had already terminated his contract by then and also suspended him. The man has been treated on the basis of guilty before being having the chance to prove his innocence.

The Premier League maybe the best League in the world, but there was no cue of clubs looking to give an innocent man the chance to do something that he’s good at, and that’s play football to a very good standard.

Lorient from Ligue1, were the only club to actually go out and put money where their mouth is. It takes a real leap of faith for a football club to do that, to give players a second chance.

Again to emphasise in Mendy’s case, as harsh as it is to say that he’s getting a second chance, that’s the sad facts. It’s not the 29-year-old’s fault he lost his first chance to make a career out of football.

In the case of Pogba, again a lot of clubs were ready to sign him it appeared, but Monaco were the team to put their money where their mouth is. Paul Pogba and Benjamin Mendy, both did their time, one was more unfortunate than the other, but both needed someone or some club to believe in them.

With Pogba and Mendy, they have both have the same thing in common that a French club showed faith in them. The Premier League might be the best league in the world, but France believes in people.

Which could also be said about my next example, Mason Greenwood. The soon to be Jamaican International Greenwood was cleared for allegedly raping his girlfriend.

Since then it must be stated the couple have had a baby together and, it appears they’re happy. This court case has divided fierce opinion. Although it’s not our job to be judge and jury, I can express the view that another French club supported a professional footballer in getting a second chance, Olympique Marseille.

This example might, not be the best way to demonstrate my point, but the general feeling is there. French football gives players a chance, something the so-called best League in the world should do.

In other forms of life, other lines of work, you are entitled to a second chance, depending on the crime of course that’s agreeable to have that in place, but football, the Premier League is too dismissive.

That’s harsh .. in my opinion.

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