Udinese's Okoye suspended for two months: he got booked on purpose

The National Federal Tribunal has handed Udinese goalkeeper Emil Maduka Okoye a two-month ban. A light sanction for the Nigerian player, who was previously facing a very serious charge: sporting misconduct. Okoye had been charged with match-fixing during the March 2024 match against Lazio. According to the prosecution, Okoye deliberately received a yellow card by generating an abnormal flow of bets, with odds of eight times the stake. The sanction will take effect from the start of the first official competition of the 2025/2026 season, meaning the goalkeeper will miss the first six league matches and will be eligible to return to action for Udinese's away match in Cremona on the weekend of October 19th.