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Monaco's Valere Germain handed two-match suspension for gambling

Monaco forward Valere Germain is among 19 players and coaches in France's top two divisions to be handed a suspension for breaking gambling rules.

Germain, who spent last season on loan at Nice, was given a two-match ban, of which he must serve one immediately, and fined €1,500.

Nice players Jeremy Pied and Albert Rafetraniaina and Bordeaux midfielder Thomas Toure and goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso were given suspended three-match bans -- Carrasso's for a single bet of one euro, sports daily L'Equipe said.

"Certain players thought small bets would be tolerated, but it's not the case," Christophe Bertrand, a lawyer representing several of the players involved, said in quotes reported by L'Equipe.

The LFP, which announced the suspensions late Thursday, did not say which games were bet on.

Midfielder Calvin Mangan, who plays for third-division club Chateauroux, was handed a five-match suspension, with three suspended.

Players are forbidden from gambling on matches in competitions in which they are also involved. Pied, whose Nice team finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for Europe, took to Twitter to apologise.

"I inadvertently bet 10 euros on a Ligue 1 match, a bet which I lost," he admitted. "Nice supporters can rest assured that I didn't bet on a Nice game. Regardless of the punishment I will accept it."