Udinese Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye Suspended for Illegal Betting
Enet
Maduka Okoye, the 25-year-old Nigerian international and Udinese goalkeeper, has been suspended for two months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after being found guilty of illegal betting. The ban, effective from August 18 to October 19, 2025, will sideline Okoye for the opening fixtures of the 2025-26 Serie A season, as well as Udinese’s Coppa Italia match against Carrarese.
The disciplinary action stems from suspicious betting activity detected during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio at the Dacia Arena on March 11, 2024. According to Football Italia, Okoye received a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute, which coincided with an unusual surge of bets placed at 8/1 odds on the goalkeeper being cautioned. These bets, originating primarily from the Udine region, resulted in over €120,000 in winnings, prompting an investigation by Italian authorities.
In June 2025, Okoye and three associates were referred to the FIGC’s disciplinary commission. While initial concerns suggested a potential four-year suspension for sporting fraud, the authorities ultimately convicted Okoye on the lesser charge of illegal betting, leading to the two-month ban.
Okoye, who transferred to Udinese from Watford in the summer of 2023, has been a regular presence in the club’s lineup and has earned 18 caps for Nigeria’s Super Eagles. During his suspension, Udinese are expected to rely on Razvan Sava as their first-choice goalkeeper, with no plans to sign a replacement.
The suspension will see Okoye miss six Serie A matches, returning to action on October 19, 2025. The decision serves as a reminder of the stringent regulations governing betting in professional football and the consequences of violating these rules.
