French police arrest Ivory Coast star Elye Wahi over match-fixing
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been arrested by French police on suspicion of match-fixing offences just weeks before the 2026 World Cup.
The 23-year-old is the subject of an active criminal investigation regarding a domestic league fixture.
Authorities are examining whether the attacker deliberately earned a yellow card while representing Nice against Metz on 17 May.
Organised fraud and corruption probe
The Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed the player was initially detained by authorities on 28 May.
He was held in police custody while facing severe allegations of organised sports corruption and money laundering.
“We can confirm that a 23-year-old football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1, was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation into allegations of organized fraud,” a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office stated.
“He was released after he was interviewed in police custody. The investigations remain ongoing.”
World Cup campaign continues amid scrutiny
Despite the serious legal situation, the young forward remains active in the current international tournament.
He recently started for the Elephants during their 1-0 group stage victory over Ecuador on Sunday night.
Global governing body Fifa and the Ivorian Football Association have yet to issue a formal comment regarding the investigation.
If the deliberate booking allegations are proven true, he could face severe disciplinary action and a lengthy worldwide ban from the sport.
