Ivory Coast Striker Elye Wahi Arrested Over Match‑Fixing Allegations Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi was taken into custody by French police less than two weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off. The arrest forms part of an investigation into alleged spot‑fixing activities linked to suspicious betting patterns on the player receiving a card during a match.
Spot‑fixing involves manipulating a specific incident in a game — such as a booking, corner, penalty or substitution — usually to profit from betting markets. A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23‑year‑old Ligue 1 player was detained on May 29 as part of a broader probe into organised fraud, organised sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The prosecutor’s office said the player was interviewed and then released, with investigations still ongoing. They noted that the footballer is not part of the French national team competing in the World Cup. The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) acknowledged the case, stating it is monitoring the investigation and has not opened disciplinary proceedings while the police inquiry continues, reserving the right to act later depending on the outcome.
Despite the ongoing legal process, Wahi was included in Ivory Coast’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup. He featured for 55 minutes in the Elephants’ 1‑0 victory over Ecuador in a recent warm‑up match.
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