Italian club removes Super Eagles player from lineup over betting scandal
Italian Serie A side Udinese have removed Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from their registered players list amidst an ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities.
The 25-year-old, who is being investigated over suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 win against Lazio on March 11, 2024, faces a potential five-year ban if found guilty.
Investigators raided Okoye’s house following a complaint by betting agency Sisal, whose algorithm detected unusual gambling activities linked to the goalkeeper’s yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute.
The Prosecutor’s Office in Udine also searched the premises of Diego Giordano, a pizzeria owner whose restaurant is frequented by Juventus footballers, as part of the investigation.
Udinese have replaced Okoye with newly-signed goalkeeper Egil Selvik in their 25-man squad, though it remains unclear if the decision was due to the allegations or the Nigerian’s season-ending wrist injury.
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The club’s coach, Kosta Runjaic, had earlier maintained that the team’s atmosphere remained positive despite the controversy.
“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 said.
Okoye, who joined Udinese in 2023 from Watford, has made 37 appearances for the Italian club. His legal representatives have dismissed the betting allegations as baseless.
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