Udinese and Nigeria national team goalkeeper Maduka Okoye may face a long-term suspension as part of an investigation taking place in Italy. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
He is suspected of being involved in a fraudulent incident related to extensive betting on a specific match. According to Corriere dello Sport, the investigation centers around a match played against Lazio in March 2024. Okoye received a yellow card for wasting time in the 64th minute of that game.
A significant number of suspicious bets have been recorded regarding this incident. Investigators believe this situation may have been premeditated. The investigation results indicate a potential collusion between Okoye and the owner of a pizzeria in Udine.
The footballer has close ties with this individual, and over 120,000 euros in winnings have been paid out on bets placed on yellow cards at several betting shops in the region. The case documents have been submitted to the Italian Football Federation's prosecutor's office. If Okoye's guilt is confirmed, he could face a ban from football activities for up to four years.
So far, Udinese has not made an official statement.
