Latest news with #matchfixing
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Udinese keeper Okoye banned for two months after match-fixing probe
Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who had been accused of match-fixing, has been cleared of all charges but given a two-month ban by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the Serie A club said. The FIGC National Federal Court, which met on Tuesday to discuss the charge against Nigerian Okoye, "has excluded any involvement of the player in sports offences, after accepting the arguments of his lawyers", Udinese said in a statement. "During the trial, all charges of alleged sporting misconduct were dropped, and the decision to impose a two-month ban was based solely on a violation of the general principle of fairness (Article 4 of the Federal Sports Justice Code). "The club has stated that it is satisfied with the court's conclusion that the player was not involved in the infamous match-fixing theory. The club wishes to reiterate its full support for Okoye, who is awaiting the reasons for the decision. Udinese Calcio reasserts that it is firmly convinced of Maduka's proper conduct." The 25-year-old Nigerian international was alleged to have deliberately collected a booking during his team's Italian league match against Lazio in March 2024. The German-born goalkeeper received a yellow card for time-wasting, after an alleged deal reached with a friend who won 120,000 euros ($140,000) as a result of a bet. The FIGC investigation established that there was no intention to fix the match, which would have been punishable by a four-year fine. However Okoye, who has been with Udinese since 2023, will be suspended from August 18 to October 19. He will therefore miss seven of his team's matches -- six in the league and one in the Coppa Italia. jr/ea/nr/mw
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Udinese keeper Okoye banned for two months after match-fixing probe
The FIGC National Federal Court, which met on Tuesday to discuss the charge against Nigerian Okoye, "has excluded any involvement of the player in sports offences, after accepting the arguments of his lawyers", Udinese said in a statement. "During the trial, all charges of alleged sporting misconduct were dropped, and the decision to impose a two-month ban was based solely on a violation of the general principle of fairness (Article 4 of the Federal Sports Justice Code). "The club has stated that it is satisfied with the court's conclusion that the player was not involved in the infamous match-fixing theory. The club wishes to reiterate its full support for Okoye, who is awaiting the reasons for the decision. Udinese Calcio reasserts that it is firmly convinced of Maduka's proper conduct." The 25-year-old Nigerian international was alleged to have deliberately collected a booking during his team's Italian league match against Lazio in March 2024. The German-born goalkeeper received a yellow card for time-wasting, after an alleged deal reached with a friend who won 120,000 euros ($140,000) as a result of a bet. The FIGC investigation established that there was no intention to fix the match, which would have been punishable by a four-year fine. However Okoye, who has been with Udinese since 2023, will be suspended from August 18 to October 19. He will therefore miss seven of his team's matches -- six in the league and one in the Coppa Italia. © 2025 AFP
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Court ban Maduka Okoye for two months after match-fixing allegation
Udinese goalkeeper and former Nigerian Super Eagles top goalie Maduka Okoye don chop two months ban afta dem investigate am for match-fixing. Court sanction di Udinese goalkeeper with a two-month ban after dem bin charge am with alleged match-fixing, dem say e bin allegedly allow dem to book am on purpose during one match against Lazio for di 2023-2024 season. Dem say na after one agreement with one of di bettors; di booking hapun for di 18th minute of di second half of di game for time wasting. E bin dey face four years suspension but di Italian Football Federation, federal prosecutor office on Tuesday drop all charges of sports fraud against am. Okoye go begin serve im suspension in August 18, di day Udinese go face Carrarese in di first round of di Coppa Italia (2025-2026) season. 'No sporting offence dey committed' - Udinese Udinese Calcio don release press statement for dia website, wey tok say di tribunal clear Okoye of sporting offences. "Di FIGC National Federal Tribunal, meeting today to discuss di referral of Maduka Okoye, rule out any involvement of di player in conduct wey we consider unsporting misconduct, fully accepting di lawyers arguments," di statement tok. "In di trial, we drop all allegations of alleged unsporting misconduct, and di decision to impose two-month ban na base on di violation of di general principle of fair play (Article 4 of the Federal Sports Justice Code). "Di club express dia satisfaction wit di player proven complete non-involvement in di infamous match-fixing theory. Di club dey full support Okoye, wey dey wait for di ruling reasons. "Udinese Calcio reiterate dia full confidence in Maduka proper conduct." Di statement tok. About Maduka Okoye Maduka Emilio Okoye na professional goalkeeper wit Nigeria Super Eagles and Udinese club for Italy. Dem bron am in August 28, 1999 for Düsseldorf in Germany. Im mama na German while im papa na Nigerian. Okoye papa na from Enugu state in Nigeria. Di 25-year-old bin fully join di Nigeria team in 2019 afta e show im performance during di Nigeria match wit Brazil for 2019. Di 6ft 6in tall goalkeeper start im career for Germany for Borussia Monchengladbach, e also play for Bayer Leverkusen and Fortuna Dusseldorf before e come move to Italy to join Udinese Calcio in 2023. E win Sparta Player of di Season award for di 2020-2021 season during im time wit Eredivis and help di Dutch team eighth in di Dutch top flight. At di age of 18, Okoye bin dey di eye of di den Nigeria Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr since e play for Germany Fortuna Düsseldorf under-19 team.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maduka Okoye handed two-month suspension for match-fixing
The Nigerian Udinese goalkeeper is punished for deliberately earning a yellow card during a match. Maduka Okoye Maduka Okoye has been handed a two-month suspension on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, for his involvement in a match-fixing betting scandal. The Nigerian goalkeeper for Udinese Calcio was found guilty of deliberately earning a yellow card during a match against Lazio as part of a rigged betting scheme. The 25-year-old player was suspended for two months by the Italian federal court following an investigation into cheating in a Serie A match. On March 11, 2024, during an away game at Lazio, Maduka Okoye received a yellow card in the 64th minute for time-wasting. While the incident appeared routine, it triggered an inquiry after an abnormal spike in bets specifically targeting that booking. Investigators discovered that a close friend of Okoye, who owns a pizzeria in Udine, wagered on the yellow card and pocketed over 120,000 euros. The case was prosecuted by the federal prosecutor's office, which established that Maduka Okoye and his associates had an arrangement to influence the course of the match. Initially facing a possible four-year ban, the goalkeeper ultimately received a two-month suspension, starting from the first official match of the 2025-2026 season. He will be eligible to return to action from October 19.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Snooker star who was suspended for match-fixing says match-fixers should be banned for life
SUSPENDED snooker star Mark King has insisted that any player found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life. King is currently suspended until March 2028 after being found guilty of fixing a match against Joe Perry in 2023. 2 2 But the 51-year-old told BBC Essex: "I don't think anyone should come back once they've been caught. "If you're guilty, that's it, you should never be allowed to play again." King, who was first suspended by snooker's governing body in March 2023 after suspicious betting patterns were flagged following his 4-0 loss to Joe Perry at the Welsh Open in February that year. Perry was not under suspicion and King has consistently denied the charges. After losing an appeal in May, he was hit with a staggering £113,000 cost order. In November 2024, the former Northern Ireland Open champion was found guilty and banned until March 2028. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) made it clear that there's no more serious violation than match-fixing, adding they had thoroughly investigated the case. The body said in a statement: "There was strong evidence against King, and this led to action under the WPBSA's Conduct Regulations." King admitted the scandal had taken a toll on his personal life, with his wife suffering serious health problems during the investigation. He revealed: "The hardest part of this has been seeing what it's done to my wife. Championship League snooker match awkwardly interrupted by Ice Cream Van "She had a pacemaker fitted not long after it all started, and it's been really tough on her." The Essex player, who once reached No.11 in the world, is also a recovering gambling addict and said the entire ordeal had severely impacted his mental health. While the WPBSA emphasised the support available for players, including counselling and legal advice, King described his struggles. He also admits despite receiving emotional support from close friends like three-time world champion Mark Williams, who called just to check on him, King is still facing financial strain due to his suspension. He said: "I don't have £113,000 lying around. "I'm out of work at 51, and I tried doing a bit of labouring, but it was too much for me." With just under three years remaining on his suspension, King is uncertain about his future in snooker. He concluded: "I don't know what's going to happen. I love playing, love the travel, but I'm still hurt and angry."
