Elye Wahi Barred from Canada Travel Amidst Match-Fixing Investigation
Quick Look
- Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi is unable to travel to Canada for a World Cup match due to an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing.
- The French league alerted authorities after unusual betting activity on Wahi receiving a yellow card in a May game.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi is under investigation for alleged match-fixing, leading to him being denied travel to Canada for a World Cup match. The French league flagged suspicious betting activity on Wahi receiving a yellow card.
The Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated for alleged fixing, has not been authorised to travel to Canada for his team’s World Cup match against Germany, the Côte d’Ivoire football federation (FIF) said on Thursday.
The FIF said Wahi would not be able to travel with the squad for Saturday’s game in Toronto because “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage”.
Wahi started for Côte d’Ivoire when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game in Philadelphia on Monday. He will remain in the United States pending the team’s return, the FIF said.
The French football league said on Wednesday that an “unusual amount of bets” were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game with Nice in May. It was alerted by partners monitoring betting markets about suspicious activity at international level concerning Nice’s home game against Metz on 17 May, which ended 0-0, and in which Wahi was shown a yellow card. The French league said it passed this information to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as to the French football federation.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office said: “A 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of their investigation.”
The office added: “The investigation concerns alleged offences of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.” The player was questioned while in police custody and released without being detained. The office added the investigation was ongoing.
Wahi’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The FIF said it had not been officially notified “of any judicial or administrative proceedings” concerning Wahi. “During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Côte d’Ivoire national team.”
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 19 games, helping Nice reach the French Cup final.
Open Questions
- What are the specific penalties if Wahi is found guilty?
- Will other players be investigated?
- What is the timeline for the investigation?
