Elye Wahi Cleared to Play in Canada Amidst Match-Fixing Investigation
Quick Look
- Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, under investigation for alleged match-fixing, has received authorization to travel to Canada for his team's World Cup match against Germany.
- The French league alerted authorities after an unusual amount of bets were placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card in a May game.
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Why It Matters
Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi is under investigation for alleged match-fixing after unusual betting activity was noted on him receiving a yellow card. He has now been cleared to play in an upcoming World Cup match.
The Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated for alleged fixing, has received authorisation to enter Canada for his team’s World Cup match against Germany, the country’s football federation (FIF) said on Thursday.
The federation had earlier announced the 23-year-old was not going to be able to travel to Canada, but it issued a new statement stating the necessary authorisations had been obtained. Wahi started for Côte d’Ivoire when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game in Philadelphia on Monday.
The French football league said on Wednesday that an “unusual amount of bets” were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card playing for Nice in a Ligue 1 game 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 said the investigation was continuing.
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
- Will Wahi face charges?
- What is the outcome of the investigation?
- Will FIF take action against Wahi?
