Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is under investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding unusual betting patterns related to a yellow card he received during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.
If found guilty, he could face a potential four-year ban, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The betting agency Sisal identified irregular gambling activities through their monitoring systems, noting a significant number of bets placed on Okoye receiving a booking during the game.
He was cautioned for time-wasting in the 64th minute of Udinese’s 2-1 victory, which has prompted this investigation that also includes Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizzeria owner in Udine.
Investigators have alleged that a verbal agreement regarding this bet may have taken place at Giordano’s Biffi pizzeria before its execution at a Sisal betting outlet days before the match. The inquiry was initiated after Sisal reported these suspicious betting patterns, leading to searches at Okoye’s and Giordano’s properties.
In response, Okoye’s legal team has characterized the allegations as unfounded, asserting insufficient evidence to support such claims. Should the investigation find him guilty, he could face significant repercussions under Article 24 of the Italian Code of Sports Justice, which prohibits professional footballers from gambling on official events organized by FIGC, UEFA, and FIFA.
This development comes at a challenging moment for Okoye, who is currently recovering from wrist surgery.
Since joining Udinese in 2023 after a 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 investigation is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, with possible sanctions ranging from a month to a four-year ban, contingent upon the severity of any confirmed infractions.