
Nigerian international and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is under scrutiny as the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates allegations of illegal betting. If proven guilty, the Super Eagles star could face a minimum four-year suspension from football.
According to reports from *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the probe was triggered by betting agency Sisal, which flagged irregular betting activity tied to Okoye receiving a yellow card during Udinese’s Serie A clash with Lazio in March 2024. Okoye was booked for time-wasting in the 64th minute, a move that has now drawn suspicion.
The investigation has also implicated Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizzeria owner in Udine, who is alleged to have orchestrated the betting scheme. Authorities claim the arrangement was discussed verbally at Giordano’s establishment and executed at a Sisal betting outlet days before the Lazio-Udinese match.
In response, Okoye’s legal representatives have strongly denied the accusations. “The allegations are baseless and unsupported by credible evidence,” they said in a statement, expressing confidence in their client’s eventual exoneration.
The investigation has sparked widespread debate, with fans and analysts closely monitoring developments in the case that could have significant implications for Okoye’s career and reputation.
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