Elye Wahi questioned by police over suspicious Ligue 1 incident

French police recently questioned Ivorian striker Elye Wahi just days before he left for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The inquiry centers on a highly debated Ligue 1 match that has raised concerns about potential match-fixing.

Key details of the inquiry

Wahi, who plays for OGC Nice, was questioned as part of an ongoing investigation by French anti-corruption authorities. The focus is on a specific match in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season that has drawn attention due to unusual betting patterns.

The incident in question occurred during Nice’s game against FC Metz on May 17, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Wahi received a controversial yellow card in the 35th minute for a late tackle on Metz defender Sadibou Sané, despite having committed a similar foul two minutes earlier on Bouna Sarr without being penalized. This fifth yellow card of the season led to his suspension for the first leg of Nice’s relegation playoff against AS Saint-Étienne, which also ended in a 0-0 draw.

Three days later, during the second leg, Wahi returned to the starting lineup and scored twice in Nice’s 4-1 victory, securing the team’s stay in Ligue 1. Shortly after this match on May 29, he was taken in for questioning by French anti-corruption police.

Legal proceedings and current status

The Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the arrest in an official statement: “We can confirm that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille court for alleged organized fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and concealment.”

Although the player’s identity was not disclosed, sources close to the investigation confirmed to L’Actu du Sport that the individual in question is Elye Wahi. The striker, who previously represented France at youth levels, switched his international allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire in early 2026 and is currently participating in the World Cup in North America.

Following his questioning, Wahi was released without charges and allowed to travel freely to the World Cup. He made his tournament debut on June 14 in Philadelphia, where he started for Côte d’Ivoire against Ecuador. Wahi combined well with teammate Yan Diomande—named man of the match—and saw his side win 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Amad Diallo.

World Cup participation unaffected

The French football authorities have not commented on whether they were aware of the investigation before Wahi’s departure. FIFA has also not responded to inquiries regarding possible implications on his eligibility to play or travel. Wahi is scheduled to play his next match for Côte d’Ivoire on June 18 in Toronto against Germany in the second round of the group stage.