Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi is reportedly being investigated by French authorities over allegations linked to match-fixing, just days before the ongoing FIFA World Cup campaign.
According to reports, the 23-year-old striker is at the centre of an active probe aimed at determining whether he intentionally received a yellow card during Nice’s Ligue 1 encounter against Metz on May 17.
French police are said to have arrested Wahi on May 29 as part of the investigation. He was later released after being questioned, with no charges filed against him at this stage.
A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23-year-old player competing in France’s top division was detained in connection with an investigation involving alleged organised fraud, sports corruption, money laundering and the handling of criminal proceeds.
The official added that the player was interviewed while in custody and subsequently released, stressing that inquiries into the case are still ongoing. Authorities also noted that the footballer is not a member of the French national team currently participating in the World Cup.
The investigation reportedly began after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which oversees professional football in France, received alerts over unusual betting activities surrounding Wahi’s booking in Nice’s goalless draw against Metz.
Wahi was cautioned in the 35th minute following a challenge on Metz defender Sadibou Sane. Two minutes earlier, he had already committed another foul after bringing down Bouna Sarr with a sliding tackle.
The yellow card was Wahi’s fifth of the season, automatically suspending him for the first leg of Nice’s relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne. The opening fixture ended in a stalemate, but the striker returned for the decisive second leg and scored twice as Nice secured a 4-1 victory.
Later on the same day as that match, anti-corruption officers reportedly took the Ivory Coast forward into custody for questioning.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Wahi has not been formally charged with any offence and travelled to the United States with the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup.
The striker switched his international allegiance to the Elephants in March after previously representing France at youth level.
He featured for 55 minutes in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador, striking the crossbar before being substituted. The African side will next face Germany before concluding their Group E campaign against Curacao.
