More than ten years later, the pill has still not passed. Nikola Karabatic, former Montpellier player (2002-2005 then 2009-2013), left the club after the suspicious betting affair in which he and his brother Luka were mired. According to Julien Deljarry, it is for this reason that the triple Olympic champion was not celebrated this Sunday, on the sidelines of PSG’s victory in Hérault (26-31).
“There is no animosity, there is no problem,” said the president of the Montpellier club. We have a history and I cannot celebrate a career ten years after having put the club in danger. It’s just to protect the institution too. »
This season, which is probably his last on the professional circuit, Nikola Karabatic is in the spotlight during most of Paris Saint-Germain’s trips.
Julien Deljarry recalled to what extent the MHB had been in difficulty after the affair: “It is to remain consistent with our history. There was a group of gamblers, at the time, who were involved in sports betting. If ten years ago my father did not find 15 to 17 business leaders who each invested 100,000 euros to save the club, this evening (Sunday) you do not have this spectacle.
Among the defendants, Nikola and his brother Luka. Both Montpellier players at the time, they were accused of having bet on a match of their club in May 2012. They allegedly bet large sums of money on the fact that Cesson would lead at half-time against at the MHB, which was the case. Although he has always denied the facts, Nikola Karabatic was sentenced to two months in prison with a suspended fine of 10,000 euros for fraud in 2017.