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Udinese coach, Kosta Runjaic says the club’s atmosphere is still very good despite the betting scandal involving Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye as they prepare for Monday night’s clash against Como at Sinigaglia.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper is currently under investigation by the Udine Public Prosecutor’s Office over suspicious betting patterns surrounding a yellow card he received during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.
“We haven’t talked about it; we’re focused on Como,” Runjaic said.
“I’m very present in the locker room; maybe the lads talked about it among themselves, but I can’t know that. I’m the coach and I like to talk about formations, football, tactics. The atmosphere is still very good; the team spirit is there, and we’re working diligently and with intensity.”
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, betting agency Sisal reported unusual gambling activities detected by their algorithms, with an abnormal amount of bets placed on Okoye receiving a booking during the match. The Nigerian was eventually cautioned for time-wasting in the 64th minute of Udinese’s 2-1 victory.
The investigation, which also involves Diego Giordano, a 40-year-old pizzeria owner in Udine, was launched after investigators alleged that a verbal agreement regarding the bet was made at Giordano’s Biffi pizzeria before being executed at a Sisal betting outlet days before the match.
If found guilty under Article 24 of the Italian Code of Sports Justice, which strictly prohibits professional footballers from gambling on official events organised by FIGC, UEFA and FIFA, Okoye could face a ban ranging from seven months to four years.
The goalkeeper’s legal representatives have dismissed the allegations as baseless, maintaining that they lack substantial evidence.
The investigation comes at a challenging time for Okoye, who is currently sidelined after undergoing wrist surgery. Udinese have already signed Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik as cover.
Since joining Udinese in 2023 following a spell at Watford, Okoye has made 37 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper before his injury.
Credit: punchng.com
