Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is at the center of an investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office over suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card he received during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024. If found guilty, the Super Eagles star could face a ban of up to four years
Italian sports daily *La Gazzetta dello Sport* revealed that betting agency Sisal flagged irregular gambling activities using its algorithms, which detected an unusual number of bets on Okoye being booked during the match. The goalkeeper was cautioned for time-wasting in the 64th minute of Udinese’s 2-1 victory, triggering the investigation.
The inquiry also involves Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizzeria owner in Udine. Investigators allege that a verbal agreement regarding the bet was made at Giordano’s Biffi pizzeria and executed at a Sisal outlet days before the game.
Searches have been conducted at both Okoye’s residence and Giordano’s property following Sisal’s report. Despite these developments, Okoye’s legal team has dismissed the allegations as unfounded, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.
Under Article 24 of the Italian Code of Sports Justice, professional players are prohibited from gambling on official events organised by FIGC, UEFA, or FIFA. If proven guilty, Okoye could face sanctions ranging from seven months to four years, depending on the gravity of the offense.
This investigation comes at a challenging time for Okoye, who is recovering from wrist surgery. Udinese, anticipating his absence, has signed Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik as a temporary replacement.
Since joining Udinese in 2023 after a tough stint at Watford, Okoye has made 37 appearances across all competitions, solidifying his role as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper before his injury.
The case is expected to be resolved in the coming weeks, with the football world closely watching the outcome of the proceedings.
