The 2026 World Cup has already produced several major stories on the pitch. Players from across the globe are competing on football’s biggest stage while representing their countries in front of millions of supporters.
However, events away from the tournament can sometimes attract just as much attention. Off-field developments often follow players into major competitions, particularly when investigations or legal matters remain unresolved.
That has now become the case for one player currently representing his country at the World Cup.
According to The Athletic, Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi remains the subject of an active investigation after French police arrested him on suspicion of offences linked to alleged match-fixing less than two weeks before the tournament.
People with knowledge of the case informed that investigators are trying to establish whether Wahi deliberately received a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz on May 17.
French police arrested the 23-year-old on May 29 shortly after he scored twice in Nice’s victory over Saint-Etienne, a result that secured the club’s Ligue 1 status.
However, authorities later released Wahi after questioning him and the investigation remains ongoing. A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office told The Athletic:
“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 organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
“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 investigation reportedly began after the Ligue de Football Professionnel received notifications regarding unusual betting activity linked to Nice’s match against Metz.
Despite the investigation, Wahi travelled to North America for the World Cup. He started Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia.
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