Udinese Goalkeeper Banned for Misconduct Clean Ceared of Match-Fixing

(The Post News)- Udinese and Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been banned for two months for misconduct after he deliberately sought a yellow card during a league match against Lazio in March 2024. The allegations emerged after the incident, and an investigation into unusual betting patterns was initiated due to the suspicious booking.

Although Okoye was reprimanded for “time-wasting” infractions, the Italian FA declared that he was found not guilty of match-fixing or direct gambling. In a statement, Udinese expressed their satisfaction with the result.

According to a statement from Udinese, “the Federal Tribunal of the FIGC has today excluded any involvement of the player Maduka Okoye in sporting fraud, fully accepting the arguments put forth by his lawyers.” The club is pleased that the athlete has been completely exonerated of the degrading accusations of match-fixing.

The statement added, “the club cannot help but reaffirm its maximum support to Okoye, who is waiting to read the purpose of the sentencing.” The two-month ban will go into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 season.

A serious charge of sporting fraud that could have led to a four-year ban was avoided by the 24-year-old.

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Phishego Mathipa

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As a journalist, my mission is to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities and bring truth to the forefront through honest, responsible reporting. Whether covering politics, sports, and/or social issues. I remain committed to accuracy, integrity, and the power of storytelling to drive change. Journalism is not just about headlines it’s about humanity.

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