26.06.2014 00:28 h

Rothen in dock again over betting

Former France international Jerome Rothen is among 37 players who have been summonsed to appear before the Professional Football League (LFP) for illegal betting on matches in France.

Now playing for Ligue 1 side Caen, winger Rothen, 36, already received a three-month suspended ban in 2013 for breaking France's strict laws on players' involvement in gambling by making predictions on Ligue 2 matches on the Unibet online betting site.

Rothen, a former Paris Saint Germain, Monaco and Bastia player, is among a group of 14 players now accused of betting more than 500 euros on games between July 2013 and January 2014.

Eighty-seven professional footballers have broken rules banning them from betting on top French leagues, with 23 under particular scrutiny from the LFP for having placed online bets against their own teams.

Ligue 1 players -- Nantes' Johan Audel and Valenciennes' Anthony Le Tallec -- are among the group accused of betting on their own teams and have also been summonsed to appear before the LFP.

The hearings will take place on July 17 and 24.

Under French law, sportsmen are not allowed to bet on competitions in which they are taking part.