Suspected of match-fixing, Elye Wahi arrested by police before World Cup

Elye Wahi, 23-year-old striker for OGC Nice and a regular starter for the Ivory Coast national team, was arrested by French police on May 29, according to information revealed Wednesday by The Athletic. The arrest came as part of an investigation into potential match-fixing, just weeks before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

The player is suspected of deliberately provoking a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz (0-0) on May 17. That evening, he was cautioned in the 35th minute by referee Pignard for a hard tackle on Sadibou Sané. According to The Athletic, significant bets were reportedly placed on that caution.

Wahi has not been charged at this stage, but remains under surveillance by authorities. The matter takes on particular significance given his international schedule: just days after his arrest, the striker — who obtained Ivorian nationality this year — started with the Elephants in a warm-up match, then in the team’s opening Group E fixture against Ecuador (1-0 victory).

Having remained silent against France in a friendly and against Ecuador, Wahi could start again in Ivory Coast’s next match against Germany on Saturday. The legal situation in which he finds himself casts a heavy shadow as this confrontation approaches.