Ivorian attacker arrested for match-fixing ahead of World Cup
Elye Wahi, striker for the Ivory Coast national team, was detained by French police in late May on suspicion of intentionally receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match for betting fraud purposes.
Ivorian attacker arrested for match-fixing ahead of World Cup
French police placed Elye Wahi, centre-forward for OGC Nice and the Ivorian national side, in custody on 29 May, two weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup, according to Index citing The Athletic.
According to anonymous sources from the English-language publication, the 22-year-old player allegedly deliberately received a yellow card during the match against Metz on 17 May as part of a betting manipulation scheme. The referee's decision was said to have been deliberately provoked.
His detention took place immediately after the match against Saint-Étienne, in which he had scored twice, allowing his club to secure their place in the top flight. He was thus arrested shortly before the start of the global tournament.
Despite his detention, he nonetheless participated in Ivory Coast's first group match against Ecuador, starting and playing 56 minutes. The national team will next face Germany on 20 June, then Curaçao five days later to conclude the group stage.
Source: Index