Udinese goalkeeper Okoye risks 4-year ban for sporting fraud | OneFootball

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is at risk of up to a four-year ban for sporting fraud after he was deferred to the disciplinary commission.

The shot-stopper is accused of purposefully receiving a yellow card at the 64th minute during a Serie A match between Udinese and Lazio.

Betting patterns sparked Okoye investigation

UDINE, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye of Udinese concedes an own goal during the Serie A match between Udinese and Juventus at Stadio Friuli on November 02, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

The match was played on March 11, 2024, and he was booked for time-wasting with his team leading 2-1.

Authorities flagged a rush of suspicious betting activity around Okoye receiving a yellow card, which at 8/1 odds allegedly generated over €120,000 in winning bets.

Most of them were based around the provinces of the city of Udine.

Okoye was placed under investigation along with three friends, including the owner of a pizza restaurant in Udine, and has now been deferred to the disciplinary commission.

The charges are more serious than previously thought, namely of sporting fraud rather than just irregular betting.

If found guilty of sporting fraud, then he risks up to a four-year ban.

The 25-year-old is a Nigeria international with 18 senior caps who joined Udinese from Watford in the summer of 2023.