Paris, France: Ivory Coast international football player Elye Wahi was arrested by French police on May 29 as part of an investigation into alleged spot-fixing offenses before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Okay News reports that the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed the 23-year-old is being investigated over allegations that he deliberately sought to receive a yellow card while playing for the club Nice in a Ligue 1 match against Metz on May 17.
A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said, “We can confirm that a 23-year-old football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1, was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor’s office into allegations of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.”
The spokesperson said, “He was released after he was interviewed in police custody. The investigations remain ongoing. The football player is not a member of the French selection taking part in the World Cup.”
The Ligue de Football Professionnel confirmed the investigation on Wednesday and released a statement regarding the ongoing proceedings.
The governing body said, “At this stage, and in view of the ongoing proceedings and the associated confidentiality requirements imposed on it by the police authorities, the LFP will not make any further comment and has not initiated any disciplinary proceedings. It reserves the right, however, to do so depending on how the investigations progress.”
The statement said, “The LFP reiterates that it remains fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of its competitions and that it will take the strongest possible action against any behaviour likely to compromise it.”
Wahi was named in the final squad for the tournament and played 55 minutes in a 1–0 win over Ecuador on Monday.
