Ghanaian defender Djiku suspended for one match for attacking bets in France
Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku has been banned from a match in France for taking part in sports betting activities.
- 28-year-old hit with one-match ban for betting offenses
- The Strasbourg defender is one of the 76 people sanctioned in France
- Djiku will be absent for his team’s visit to PSG when Ligue 1 resumes
WHAT HAPPENED? The Strasbourg defender was among 76 players, coaches and team managers who have been named following an investigation by the Professional Football League (LFP) for their involvement in betting during the 2020-21 season.
WHAT DID THEY SAY? “These offenses were committed even though, together, the LFP and the UNFP (the players’ union) carried out daily awareness or information campaigns with the clubs”, writes the LFP in its press release. Press release.
“The Commission recalls that those involved in competitions organized by the FFF or the LFP (in particular players, coaches, managers of professional football clubs) have a general ban on betting, online or in physical networks, on all football competitions, whether national or foreign”.
THE BIGGEST PICTURE: Players and football officials are banned from betting on matches and the ban, albeit short, is a blemish on the Black Stars defender who was part of the Ghana squad at the World Cup 2022.
The French-born, 28-year-old opted to represent Ghana, making his debut for the Black Stars in October 2020 and has since earned 20 caps, while scoring one goal.
Djiku started his club career at Bastia in 2012, playing for the youth team for four years before joining the senior team in 2016 and then moving to Caen in 2017. He spent two years at the Normandy club before to move to Strasbourg in 2019 where he became a regular, making 110 appearances in all competitions, including 14 in 2022-23.
WHAT ELSE? Cameroonian defender Jean-Charles Castelletto is among the sanctioned players and the Nantes centre-back will serve a four-match suspension.
Castelletto played for the Indomitable Lions at the 2022 World Cup and played 90 minutes in their first two games against Switzerland and Serbia, scoring in the thriller 3-3 against the latter.
AND AFTER? Djiku will miss the Strasbourg match against champions Paris Saint-Germain when the French league resumes on December 28.
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