ROME, ITALY — Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been suspended for two months by Italian football authorities after being found guilty of illegal betting. The Nigerian international, who plays for Serie A club Udinese, avoided a more severe four-year ban for sporting fraud, as reported by Football Italia on Tuesday.
The investigation stemmed from a Serie A match between Udinese and Lazio on March 11, 2024. During the game, Okoye received a yellow card in the 64th minute for time-wasting, while his team held a 2-1 lead. This incident drew the attention of authorities due to a surge in unusual betting patterns, specifically wagers placed on Okoye receiving a yellow card. These bets, predominantly from the Udine area at odds of 8/1, reportedly generated over €120,000 in winnings.
Okoye and three associates were subsequently investigated, with the case presented to Italy’s disciplinary commission in June 2025. Despite initial concerns of sporting fraud, which could have led to a career-threatening ban, the commission ultimately ruled on the lesser offense of illegal betting.
The two-month suspension for the 25-year-old goalkeeper will begin on August 18, 2025, coinciding with Udinese’s Coppa Italia fixture against Carrarese. Consequently, Okoye will miss six Serie A matches and is expected to be eligible to return to play on October 19. Okoye, who has earned 18 caps for the Nigerian national team, joined Udinese from English club Watford in 2023.