By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is under investigation for suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card he received during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.
In that match, the 25-year-old was booked for time-wasting in the second half of his team’s 2-1 win.
The Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office is leading the probe, according to reports from Italy.
Okoye, who is currently unavailable after undergoing wrist surgery, now risks a four-year ban from football by sporting authorities if found guilty of involvement in illegal betting.
The owner of a pizzeria, often visited by players and occasionally by Udinese managers, has also been implicated as a suspect in the case.
Both suspects are accused of fraud.
The investigation was initiated following a report from Sisal, highlighting a series of high-value bets linked to the yellow card issued to the Udinese goalkeeper during the match, which was won 2-1 in Rome.
