Ivory Coast international and Nice forward Elye Wahi is reportedly under investigation by French authorities over allegations of match-fixing less than two weeks before the start of the World Cup.
According to reports, the 23-year-old striker is being investigated over suspicions that he deliberately received a yellow card during Nice’s Ligue 1 match against Metz on May 17.
The Athletic reported that Wahi was arrested by French police on May 29 as part of the ongoing probe but was later released after being questioned.
Confirming the development, a spokesperson for the Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office said a 23-year-old Ligue 1 footballer was taken into custody as part of an investigation involving allegations of organized fraud, sports corruption, handling proceeds of crime, and money laundering.
The spokesperson noted that the player was released after an interview with investigators and that inquiries remain ongoing. Authorities also clarified that the footballer is not a member of France’s World Cup squad.
The investigation reportedly began after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) received alerts about suspicious betting activity linked to Wahi receiving a yellow card during Nice’s goalless draw against Metz on May 17.
Wahi was booked in the 35th minute following a challenge on Metz defender Sadibou Sane. He had also committed another foul moments earlier after a sliding tackle on Bouna Sarr.
The caution was Wahi’s fifth of the season, resulting in a suspension that ruled him out of Nice’s relegation play-off first-leg clash against Saint-Etienne. He returned for the second leg and scored twice in a 4-1 victory on May 29 — the same day he was reportedly arrested by anti-corruption investigators.
Despite the investigation, Wahi has not been formally charged with any offence and travelled with the Ivory Coast national team for the World Cup in the United States.
The striker, who switched his international allegiance from France to Ivory Coast in March after representing France at youth level, recently featured in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador, playing 55 minutes and striking the crossbar before being substituted.
Ivory Coast are scheduled to face Germany on Saturday before concluding their Group E campaign against Curacao next week.
Authorities have emphasized that investigations are still ongoing, and no criminal charges have been filed against the player at this stage.