Udinese and Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been handed a two-month ban by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for sporting misconduct tied to a betting scandal during a Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024. The 24-year-old Nigerian international was found guilty of deliberately provoking a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute of Udinese’s 2-1 victory, following an investigation triggered by abnormal betting patterns. The FIGC’s National Federal Tribunal announced the sanction on July 22, 2025, ruling that Okoye “intentionally committed an act” to influence betting outcomes, though he was cleared of more serious match-fixing allegations that could have led to a four-year ban.
The controversy arose when betting company Snai flagged a surge of bets, mostly from the Udine region, placed at 8/1 odds on Okoye receiving a yellow card, with over €120,000 in winnings paid out. The investigation also involved three of Okoye’s acquaintances, including a pizzeria owner in Udine, but the tribunal accepted his lawyers’ arguments against sporting fraud charges. “The Federal Tribunal of the FIGC has today excluded any involvement of the player Maduka Okoye in sporting fraud,” Udinese stated, expressing support for the goalkeeper and reaffirming confidence in his integrity. The club noted that the ban, effective from August 18, 2025, will see Okoye miss Udinese’s Coppa Italia opener against Carrarese and five Serie A matches, with eligibility resuming on October 19 for a game against Cremonese.
Okoye, who joined Udinese from Watford in 2023 and has 18 caps for Nigeria, has not publicly commented on the ruling. The decision has sparked debate in Nigeria and Italy, with some praising Udinese’s loyalty to the goalkeeper, while others question the impact on his national team prospects, especially after his struggles post-2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria’s football community awaits his return as the Super Eagles face upcoming qualifiers, with the incident highlighting ongoing concerns about illegal betting in professional football.
