Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is currently under investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office due to allegations involving illegal betting.
The investigation stems from suspicions that Okoye was part of a betting scheme, and if found guilty, the Nigerian international could face a ban of at least four years from all football-related activities.
The controversy began after betting agency Sisal flagged unusual gambling activity related to Okoye’s participation in Udinese’s Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a series of bets were placed on the chance that Okoye would receive a yellow card during the match.
In the 64th minute of the game, Okoye was indeed booked by the referee for time-wasting, which has raised further questions and become the central point of the ongoing investigation.
The scope of the inquiry has extended beyond Okoye himself. Authorities are also looking into the involvement of Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizzeria owner from Udine. Reports suggest that Giordano may have played a key role in organizing the alleged betting operation.
It is believed that a verbal agreement took place at his pizzeria, which was later executed at a Sisal betting outlet located in Udine, just days before the Lazio-Udinese match.
In response to the allegations, Okoye’s legal team has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. “The accusations are baseless and lack substantial evidence,” they stated. They further emphasized their confidence that the goalkeeper would be exonerated once all facts are fully examined.
At the moment, Okoye is recovering from wrist surgery and has been unavailable for selection. To cover for his absence, Udinese has signed Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik as a precautionary measure.
