PARIS (AP) – France’s biggest handball star Nikola Karabatic and his brother have been ordered to pay thousands of euros in fines for involvement in illegal betting.
Karabatic, a multiple world and Olympic gold medalist, and younger brother Luka were among several players banned by the French handball league two years ago for betting on the result of a match in which their Montpellier club lost to a struggling team.
Montpellier had already secured the title so could easily afford the 28-31 loss to Cesson-Rennes.
A court in Montpellier on Friday fined Nikola Karabatic 10,000 euros and his brother Luka 15,000 euros, but gave no prison sentences, according to a court official. Their lawyer Jean-Robert Nguyen-Phung said on France-Info radio that he would appeal.
Other players were also handed fines.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
