Udinese drops Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye over betting scandal probe

SohaniSharma Serie A club, Udinese has removed Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from its registered players list following an ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities.

The 25-year-old is being probed for suspicious betting patterns linked to a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.

Italian authorities allege unusual gambling activity surrounding the booking, which occurred in the 90th minute for time-wasting.

The investigation, led by the Prosecutor’s Office in Udine, was triggered by a complaint from betting agency Sisal.

The agency’s algorithm flagged the anomaly, prompting authorities to raid Okoye’s residence.

Additionally, investigators searched the premises of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner whose restaurant is frequented by Juventus players, as part of the probe.

Udinese has replaced Okoye with newly signed goalkeeper Egil Selvik in their 25-man Serie A squad.

Okoye’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and urging the public to avoid premature conclusions.

If found guilty, Maduka Okoye faces a potential five-year ban from football, a penalty that would significantly impact his career.

Ahmedabad