Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who plays for Italian Serie A club Udinese, is under investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged illegal betting practices.
According to reports by Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, betting agency Sisal detected unusual gambling patterns on the likelihood of Okoye being booked during Udinese’s away match against Lazio in March 2024.
Okoye received a yellow card for time-wasting after 64 minutes, sparking suspicions of foul play.
The investigation is also examining the role of Diego Giordano, the 40-year-old owner of the Biffi pizzeria in Udine, who is alleged to have been involved in a verbal agreement regarding the bet at his restaurant.
If found guilty, Okoye faces as much as a four-year ban from all competitions, as well as potential legal consequences.
However, the player’s legal representatives have denied all allegations, claiming that the accusations are unfounded and lack substantial evidence.
Source; (Premiumtimes)
