PARIS — Players from French first-division club Nice have been suspended and fined for betting on French league games.
Top-scorer Valere Germain, centre halves Kevin Gomis and Olivier Boscagli and forward Alexandre Mendy were handed two-game suspensions — with one game suspended — by the French football league’s disciplinary committee. They were each fined 1,500 euros ($1,670).
Two other Nice players — right back Jeremy Pied and midfielder Albert Rafetraniaina — received three-match suspended sentences but no fine. The same punishment was given to Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso and midfield teammate Thomas Toure.
Midfielder Calvin Mangan, who plays for third-division club Chateauroux, was handed a five-match suspension, with three suspended.
The LFP, which announced the suspensions late Thursday, did not say which games were bet on.
Nice has not commented on the suspensions, but Pied said on his Twitter page that he fully accepts his punishment.
"I bet on one first division game this season, for the sum of (euro)10 ($11), and I lost the bet," Pied said. "Nice supporters, rest assured that in no way did I bet against Nice! You know me well enough to know I’m not capable of that."
Pied added that he fully accepts the punishment "out of respect for my profession and all of those involved in football."
