Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye given two-month ban for illegal betting

Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been suspended for two months by Italian football authorities after being found guilty of illegal betting.

The ruling comes after an investigation that sparked fears of a much longer ban of four years if found guilty of sporting fraud. However, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) opted to hand down a lesser charge of illegal betting, resulting in the two-month disqualification.

The controversy surrounding Okoye stems from a Serie A encounter between Udinese and Lazio on March 11, 2024. During the match, with Udinese leading 2-1, Okoye received a yellow card in the 64th minute for time wasting.

Authorities flagged this incident after detecting an unusual surge in betting patterns, specifically predicting a yellow card for the Nigerian international. Reports indicate that the bulk of these suspicious bets, placed at odds of 8/1, originated from the Udine area and are believed to have yielded over €120,000 in winnings.

Okoye, alongside three associates, was placed under investigation, and the case was brought before Italy’s disciplinary commission in June 2025.

The investigation initially considered the possibility of the 25-year-old intentionally influencing betting outcomes by seeking a yellow card but ultimately found him guilty of the less severe offense of illegal betting, which still constitutes a breach of sporting regulations.

The two-month ban is set to commence on August 18, 2025, meaning that Okoye will miss the start of the new Serie A season which will see him absent for one Coppa Italia and seven Serie A games. He will only be available for selection again on October 19.