Udinese has withdrawn Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from their registered players roster as part of an ongoing inquiry into potential betting violations.
The 25-year-old is being investigated for questionable betting patterns associated with a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.
The investigation began after a complaint was made by the betting company Sisal, whose algorithm identified odd gambling activity connected to Okoye’s booking for time-wasting in the 90th minute of the game. Investigators then searched Okoye’s home and the property of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner who frequently hosts Udinese players.
Should Okoye be found guilty of involvement in betting misconduct, he could face a ban of up to five years from football-related activities. This penalty could be harsher than previous cases due to his alleged direct involvement in influencing match events.
Udinese has revised their 25-man squad list, replacing Okoye with Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik. Although the club has not officially stated that the decision is linked to the ongoing investigation, Okoye is currently out for the season due to a wrist injury.
