Italian Serie A club Udinese have excluded Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from their registered players list amid an ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities.
The 25-year-old is being probed for suspicious betting patterns linked to a yellow card he received for time-wasting during Udinese’s 2-1 win against Lazio on March 11, 2024.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint from betting agency Sisal, whose algorithms flagged unusual gambling activities surrounding Okoye’s booking in the 90th minute.
Subsequently, investigators raided Okoye’s residence as well as the premises of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner with ties to several Juventus players.
If found guilty, Okoye could face a potential five-year ban, which would significantly impact his career.
His legal representatives have dismissed the allegations as unfounded, maintaining the goalkeeper’s innocence.
Meanwhile, Udinese have replaced Okoye with newly signed goalkeeper Egil Selvik in their 25-man Serie A squad.
It remains unclear if this decision was influenced by the allegations or Okoye’s recent season-ending wrist injury.
Despite the controversy, Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has assured fans that the team remains focused on their upcoming matches.
“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 joined Udinese in 2023 from Watford and has since made 37 appearances for the club. As the investigation continues, the football world waits to see how this controversy will unfold.