Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi Arrested Amid Fixing Allegations Before World Cup
Elye Wahi's Arrest Before the World Cup
Toronto [Canada], June 18 - Elye Wahi, a player from Ivory Coast participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was detained on suspicion of involvement in match-fixing just days before the tournament, as reported by a sports news outlet.
The 23-year-old is currently under investigation to ascertain whether he intentionally received a yellow card while playing for OGC Nice in a Ligue 1 match against FC Metz on May 17.
Wahi was taken into custody by French authorities on May 29, shortly after he scored two goals in a crucial match against AS Saint-Étienne, which helped secure Nice's position in Ligue 1.
Despite the legal troubles, he traveled to the United States for the World Cup and participated in Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Sunday in Philadelphia, where he notably struck the crossbar in the second half. The team is set to face Germany next in Toronto on Saturday.
A representative from the Marseille public prosecutor's office confirmed on Tuesday that a 23-year-old footballer from Ligue 1 was arrested on May 29 as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of organized fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering. He was released after being questioned by police, and the investigation continues. Notably, he is not part of the French national team competing in the World Cup.
Sources indicate that the investigation was initiated after the Ligue de Football Professionnel flagged unusual betting patterns associated with Wahi's booking in the Nice vs Metz match.
The incident in question involved Wahi receiving a yellow card in the 35th minute for a foul on Metz defender Sadibou Sane, which led to his suspension for a playoff match against Saint-Étienne due to accumulating yellow cards.
After serving his suspension, Wahi returned to the field, scoring twice and earning the man of the match title in the second leg, before being apprehended by anti-corruption officers. As of now, he has not faced any charges, and the investigation is still active.
Earlier this year, Wahi switched his international allegiance from the French youth teams to the Ivory Coast national team. He has already made an appearance in the World Cup, starting in their match against Ecuador.
In that game, he played for 55 minutes, hitting the crossbar before being substituted, with Ivory Coast preparing to take on Germany in their next Group E match in Toronto.
Wahi's career has included stints at Montpellier, Lens, Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt, and a loan to Nice, where he netted five goals in 14 Ligue 1 matches.