Betting scandals are becoming an alarming trend in European football, with top players across the continent being linked to illegal betting activities. One of the latest players caught in this web is Super Eagles and Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, who is under investigation for betting on a yellow card he received in a match against Lazio last March. If found guilty, the 25-year-old Nigerian could face a ban of up to four years.
Findings reveal that the English FA and football’s governing bodies have clear regulations prohibiting players from betting, either directly or indirectly, on football-related activities. The rules also extend to prohibiting players from disclosing inside information to others for betting purposes.
In Okoye’s case, the investigation is focused on unusual betting patterns surrounding his yellow card for time-wasting in a game against Lazio, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Udinese. The Udine Prosecutor’s Office is currently handling the investigation.
This is not the first time players have found themselves embroiled in betting scandals. Among other recent cases, Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli, Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United, Nicolo Fagioli of Juventus, Kieran Trippier of Newcastle, and Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool have all faced accusations of breaching betting rules.
Tonali, for example, received a ten-month ban and was required to participate in a rehabilitation program after his involvement in a betting scandal during his time at AC Milan.
Similarly, Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban and fined €12,500 in connection with an unlawful betting inquiry. Trippier was suspended for ten weeks and fined £70,000 after he was found guilty of leaking information about his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid in 2019, which allowed friends to profit from the insider knowledge. Toney, the England striker, admitted to breaching FA betting rules 232 times, resulting in an eight-month suspension. Sturridge, in 2020, received a four-month ban and a £150,000 fine after providing his brother with insider information about a potential move to Sevilla, which was then used for betting.
Respected journalist Femi Fabunmi, emphasized the importance of these regulations in protecting the integrity of the sport: “The rules are very clear – no active player should be seen betting, whether directly or indirectly. This is to prevent external factors from influencing the beautiful game.”
Fabunmi continued, “Many players have been penalized for being involved in betting. For Okoye, investigations are still ongoing, but he has said his hands are clean. Ivan Toney and Sandro have paid their price for their involvement in betting. One thing is sure – top 5 European leagues do not joke with players’ involvement in betting.”
Idris Musa Adinoyi, captain of Dawaki Rangers FC, also weighed in, stressing that any player found guilty of illegal betting should face the consequences. “As a professional athlete, there are certain ethics expected to be upheld, and the betting scandal is definitely not one of them,”
“Any player or athlete found guilty of such fraud after a conclusive investigation should definitively be made to dance to the tune of the music he began playing. It is sad to learn about Maduka Okoye’s investigation, but the law must take its course. If found guilty, I’d say he deserves whatever punishment. Unprofessional behaviors need to be cleansed thoroughly for the spirit of sportsmanship to shine brightly.”said Adinoyi