Two more suspects emerge in the investigation conducted by the Udine Prosecutor's Office into suspicious betting related to the Lazio-Udinese match of March 11.
In addition to Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Diego Giordano, owner of a pizzeria often frequented by footballers, among those under investigation are a citizen who owns a Snai betting centre in Udine and a building contractor.
According to Il Gazzettino, the investigation was launched following a report from Sisal regarding an anomalous concentration of bets linked to Okoye's warning during the match.
The warning, which occurred in the 19th minute of the second half for time-wasting, might seem like a common episode for a goalkeeper of a team in the lead, especially if they were underdogs like Udinese against Lazio at the Olimpico, a match that ended 2-1 for the Friulians. However, Sisal's algorithm detected an anomalous number of bets on the event, setting off the alarm.
As reported by Il Messaggero Veneto, the investigations have deepened the links between okye and the entrepreneur Giordano, leading to searches and analysis of cell phones in search of any evidence of illicit agreements or an organized network. The main charge for the suspects is fraud. From a sporting point of view, Okoye risks a ban of up to four years.
Article published on 18 January 2025 - 19:31
