Days before jetting off to the FIFA World Cup, Ivorian striker Elye Wahi found himself at the center of a French police investigation into potential match manipulation during his time at OGC Nice.

French law enforcement officials detained Wahi on May 29, just as the Côte d’Ivoire national team was finalizing preparations for the 2026 World Cup hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The inquiry centers on suspicious betting patterns surrounding a specific incident during the final matchday of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season.

The probe began after France’s Professional Football League received multiple alerts about irregular betting activity tied to a particular moment in Nice’s 0-0 draw with Metz on May 17. Wahi, then playing for Nice, received a yellow card in the 35th minute for a late tackle on Metz defender Sadibou Sané. Notably, he had committed a similar foul two minutes earlier on Bouna Sarr, which went unpenalized—raising eyebrows among match officials and spectators alike.

This fifth booking of the season resulted in a suspension, forcing Wahi to miss the first leg of Nice’s relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne. However, he returned for the decisive second leg three days later, delivering a standout performance with two goals in a 4-1 victory that secured Nice’s Ligue 1 status. It was immediately after this match that authorities took action, leading to his arrest.

Legal proceedings and the World Cup participation

French prosecutors in Marseille confirmed the arrest in a formal statement, revealing that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player had been detained on suspicion of organized fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods. While the announcement did not disclose the player’s identity, it specified that the individual was not part of the French national team—a clear indication that Wahi, who switched allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire in late 2025, was the focus.

Following questioning, Wahi was released without charge, allowing him to proceed with his World Cup commitments. The Marseille prosecutor’s office stated that the investigation was ongoing, emphasizing that no formal charges had been filed against the player at this stage.

Wahi made his World Cup debut on Sunday in Philadelphia, starting alongside teammate Yan Diomande, who was named man of the match, in Côte d’Ivoire’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador. Though Wahi narrowly missed hitting the crossbar, his contribution to the win highlighted his importance to the squad as the team prepares for its next fixture against Germany in Toronto on Saturday.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA have yet to comment on whether the ongoing investigation could affect Wahi’s eligibility to participate in the tournament or travel freely between host cities. His case underscores the growing intersection between sports integrity and high-stakes competitions, where even allegations can cast long shadows over an athlete’s career.