Football Match-Fixing Probe
Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi Arrested in France Amid Match-Fixing Probe, Released Uncharged
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Key Points
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French Professional Football League (LFP) said it alerted authorities after betting-monitoring partners detected an “unusually high volume” of international wagers placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card in Nice’s final-day league match against Metz on 17 May.
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Because of the yellow card, Wahi was suspended for the first leg of Nice’s relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne on 26 May, which finished 0-0; he then played the second leg and scored twice as Nice won 4-1 to avoid relegation.
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Marseille’s public prosecutor’s office said the arrested player was “not a member of the French selection taking part in the World Cup,” and stressed that the investigation was ongoing even though he was released after being interviewed in custody.
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Reuters reported that Wahi “was not immediately available to comment” and that he was “not named as a suspect” in the initial descriptions of the investigation.
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According to The Athletic (as relayed by the Mirror), Wahi was arrested shortly after a club performance on 29 May—scoring twice for OGC Nice in a win over Saint-Etienne that helped preserve the team’s Ligue 1 status.
OGC Nice forward Elye Wahi was arrested by French police on May 29 on suspicion of match-fixing, just days before the 2026 World Cup, according to The Athletic. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast striker was questioned and then released without charge — but the investigation remains active.
The probe centers on a yellow card Wahi received in the 35th minute of Nice's Ligue 1 finale against Metz on May 17. Betting-monitoring partners flagged an "unusually high volume" of international wagers placed specifically on Wahi getting booked, according to Reuters. Despite the inquiry, Wahi has played at the World Cup in North America, featuring in Ivory Coast's 1-0 opening win over Ecuador on June 14.
A Suspicious Yellow Card Triggers Betting Alarm
The yellow card at the heart of the case was Wahi's fifth booking of the Ligue 1 season. That automatically suspended him for the first leg of Nice's relegation play-off against Saint-Étienne on May 26, which ended 0-0, according to Sports Mole. The card came for a late tackle on Metz defender Sadibou Sané. Earlier in the match, Wahi had a slide tackle go unpunished — making the eventual booking look, to some, like a deliberate second attempt.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) — the body that runs French professional football — alerted French judicial authorities after its betting-integrity partners spotted the unusual wagering spike. The Straits Times reported that the bets were placed internationally, adding to concerns that an organized network may have been involved rather than a single individual acting alone.
Arrested Hours After Scoring Twice to Save Nice
The timing of Wahi's arrest made headlines on its own. On the evening of May 29, he came back from suspension to play the second leg of the play-off against Saint-Étienne. He scored twice as Nice won 4-1, saving the club from relegation. Then, hours later, anti-corruption officers took him into custody, according to The Mirror.
The Marseille public prosecutor's office confirmed the arrest and said Wahi was "released after he was interviewed." The office said the probe covered "organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime, and money laundering." Importantly, prosecutors stressed that "the investigations remain ongoing" even though no charges have been filed.
FIFA Silent as Wahi Plays On at the World Cup
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé kept Wahi in the squad and started him in the team's World Cup opener against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14. Wahi played 55 minutes, hit the crossbar, and was substituted as Ivory Coast won 1-0, according to Africa Top Sports. FIFA has not suspended him or issued any formal ruling on his eligibility.
Critics argue that letting Wahi play undermines the integrity of the tournament while a corruption probe is active. Reuters noted that Wahi "was not immediately available to comment" and was "not named as a suspect" in the initial descriptions of the case. The Marseille prosecutor's office also clarified that the arrested player was "not a member of the French selection taking part in the World Cup."
What Is Spot-Fixing — and What Could Wahi Face?
This case involves "spot-fixing" — manipulating a specific moment in a game, like a yellow card, rather than the final score. It is hard to detect because the event looks routine. Legal experts say the charges of organized fraud and money laundering suggest authorities believe a wider criminal network may be involved, not just the player himself, according to The Mirror.
If convicted, Wahi could face prison time and heavy fines under French law. A formal charge could also trigger a long-term global ban from football by FIFA. His parent club, Eintracht Frankfurt — who loaned him to Nice — could see the value of their asset, worth tens of millions of euros, collapse overnight. For now, the investigation continues as Wahi plays on at the biggest stage in the sport.
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