Sports

Super Eagles and Udinese Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye Suspended for Two Months Over Illegal Betting

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 23rd, 2025.

Super Eagles and Udinese Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye Suspended for Two Months Over Illegal Betting

Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper for the Super Eagles and Serie A club Udinese, has received a two-month suspension following an investigation by Italian football authorities into illegal betting activities.

Italian sports news outlet Football Italia reported on Tuesday that the Nigerian international narrowly avoided a more severe penalty of a four-year ban for involvement in sporting fraud.

The issue surfaced during a Serie A fixture on March 11, 2024, between Udinese and Lazio. Okoye was shown a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute while his team was leading 2-1.

Authorities noticed an unusual spike in bets predicting the goalkeeper would receive a booking, with most wagers placed in the Udine area. These bets, offered at odds of 8/1, reportedly led to payouts exceeding €120,000.

Subsequent investigations implicated Okoye and three others, leading to a formal disciplinary hearing in June 2025.

Although there was initial speculation that Okoye could face a four-year ban for sporting fraud, the disciplinary panel ultimately imposed a reduced sanction solely for illegal betting.

The suspension will begin on August 18, 2025, coinciding with Udinese’s Coppa Italia match against Carrarese, sidelining Okoye for six Serie A games. He is expected to be eligible for selection again starting October 19.

Okoye, who has earned 18 caps for Nigeria, transferred to Udinese from

Watford in 2023.