Serie A club Udinese has removed Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from its registered players list as an investigation into alleged betting irregularities unfolds.
The 25-year-old is being scrutinized for suspicious betting patterns tied 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 initiated after a complaint from betting agency Sisal. The agency’s algorithm flagged the anomaly, leading authorities to raid Okoye’s residence.
As part of the probe, investigators also searched the premises of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner whose restaurant is frequented by Juventus players.
In the wake of these developments, 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 could face a potential five-year ban from football, a punishment that would have significant ramifications for his career.