Udinese Keeper Okoye Facing Criminal Fraud Probe for Sketchy Yellow Card

Posted on: January 20, 2025, 01:59h. 

Last updated on: January 20, 2025, 01:59h.

Italian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. The probe followed a stream of suspicious bets surrounding a yellow card he received for time-wasting during a Serie A game against Lazio on March 11.

Maduka Okoye, Udinese, Lazio, tellow card, spot fixing, Diego Giordano, Mario Bordon
Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye saves smartly from Lazio’s Ciro Immobile to keep his team ahead in a 2-1 win in Rome. But did Okoye pick up a deliberate yellow earlier in the game? (Image: UdineseTV/YouTube)

The Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office is examining whether Okoye, 25, deliberately picked up the booking. News of the investigation was first reported by Messaggero Veneto, a daily newspaper based in Udine.

Diego Giordano, the owner of local pizzeria “Biffi,” which was frequented by Udinese players, is also a subject of the investigation, along with Mario Bordon, a “local entrepreneur,” according to Messaggero Veneto. The manager of a local “Snai” betting outlet has also been questioned.

Snai, which was recently acquired by Flutter Entertainment, is one of Italy’s biggest betting brands and was the company that reported the anomalous bets that triggered the investigation.

Phones Seized

All suspects were subject to a search and had their phones confiscated, as investigators concentrated on searching for possible betting receipts, Messaggero Veneto reports. All are facing potential fraud charges, while Okoye could be banned from the sport for four years if found guilty, according to the newspaper.

Okoye was shown the yellow card in the 64th minute of the second half for delaying a goal kick, shortly after Udinese scored their second goal in a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The incident was concerning enough for Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi to send one of his assistants to stand behind the goal to talk to the Okoye and calm him down. The goalkeeper made crucial saves later in the match to secure the win for his team.

Formerly of Watford, Okoye is German born of Nigerian heritage and plays for the Nigeria national team. He is currently long-term injured and has undergone surgery to his wrist, which forced Udinese to sign Norway international Egil Selvik in the current transfer window.

Does Soccer Have a Spot-Fixing Problem?

Okoye is the latest in a string of elite soccer players to face accusations of spot-fixing – manipulating small aspects of a game for the benefit of a gambling syndicate.

Last Monday, Sevilla center-back Kike Salas was briefly detained by Spanish police investigating allegations that two of the player’s acquaintances placed around 30 successful bets on him getting booked last year. Salas’ was La Liga’s most yellow-carded player in the 2023/24 season.

Meanwhile, in the English Premier League, Brazil and West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has been charged by England’s Football Association (FA) with deliberately seeking to “receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market.”

These charges are unprecedented in English soccer and may prove career-ending for the 27-year-old.