Italian Seria A football club, Udinese, have excluded Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from their registered players list as investigations into alleged betting irregularities intensify.
The 25-year-old is under scrutiny for suspicious betting patterns linked to a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.
If found guilty, Okoye could face a five-year ban from football.
The investigation began after betting agency Sisal flagged unusual gambling activities surrounding Okoye’s 90th-minute yellow card for time-wasting.
Subsequently, investigators raided the goalkeeper’s residence to gather evidence.
In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office in Udine extended its search to the premises of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner whose restaurant is popular among Juventus players, as part of the probe.
Udinese have replaced Okoye in their 25-man squad with newly-signed goalkeeper Egil Selvik.
However, the club has not confirmed whether the decision was driven by the allegations or Okoye’s wrist injury, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Despite the controversy, Udinese’s head coach, Kosta Runjaic, emphasized the team’s focus and morale.
“We haven’t talked about it; we’re focused on Como. The atmosphere is still very good; the team spirit is there, and we’re working diligently,” Runjaic stated.
Okoye, who joined Udinese in 2023 from Watford and has made 37 appearances for the Italian side, has denied the allegations through his legal team, describing them as baseless.
