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Mduka Okoye could fave a hefty punishment if found guilty of two things.

Udinese and Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has found himself in the eye of a storm following allegations of involvement in a betting scandal.

 The 25-year-old German-born shot-stopper is under investigation by criminal prosecutors in Udine, Italy, over irregular betting activity tied to a yellow card he received in March. 

Pulse Sports details everything you need to know about the ongoing case.

Okoye’s time-wasting booking sparked investigation

The ongoing controversy centres around an incident during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio in March 2024, where Okoye was booked for time-wasting in the second half.

Investigators are said to have raided Okoye’s house following a complaint by betting agency Sisal, whose algorithm detected unusual gambling activities linked to the goalkeeper’s yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute.

 According to Messaggero Veneto, prosecutors believe the yellow card may have been intentionally orchestrated for betting purposes. 

The timing of the booking raised eyebrows, leading authorities to scrutinise betting patterns linked to the match.

Possible connection to local businessman Diego Giordano

Reports suggest that the investigation extends beyond Okoye to Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old entrepreneur and owner of the Biffi pizzeria in via Poscolle. 

The Prosecutor’s Office in Udine also searched the premises of Diego Giordano, whose restaurant is frequented by Juventus footballers, as part of the investigation.

While the details of Giordano’s alleged involvement remain unclear, investigators are probing potential links between him and suspicious betting activity. 

Okoye could be handed 4-year BAN if found GUILTY

If found guilty of illegal betting or match-fixing, Maduka Okoye faces a potential four-year ban from all football-related activities.

This could mark a significant blow to his promising career, both at the club and international levels as Udinese have already removed the Super Eagles goalkeeper from their registered players list, amid the ongoing investigation into alleged betting irregularities.

While Okoye has not publicly commented on the allegations, the news has sent shockwaves through the football community, with many awaiting updates on the case.