Nigeria Players Abroad
Betting scandal: Maduka Okoye dropped from Udinese’s registered players list
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has been removed from Udinese registered players list amid an ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities.
The 25-year-old is under scrutiny for suspicious betting activities related to a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.
If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to five years.
Investigators searched Okoye’s residence following a complaint from betting agency Sisal, which flagged unusual gambling patterns associated with the goalkeeper’s yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute.
Additionally, the Prosecutor’s Office in Udine searched the premises of Diego Giordano, the owner of a pizzeria often visited by Juventus players, as part of the investigation.
The Italian Serie A side has replaced Okoye with newly signed goalkeeper Egil Selvik in their 25-man squad.
It remains uncertain whether this decision was influenced by the allegations or Okoye’s season-ending wrist injury.
He has been out injured since December 2024 and successfully underwent his surgery.
So far, Okoye has been behind the sticks 14 times in the league this season before his injury.
