NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Ivory Coast’s quest for a World Cup got off to a great start with a 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sunday, but a recent scandal involving one of their players may cast a shadow over the entire tournament.
According to The Athletic, Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi was arrested on suspicion of arranging crimes less than two weeks before the start of the tournament.
Elye Wahi of Ivory Coast plays during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match against Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 14, 2026. (Joe Prior/Visionhaus)
The arrest stems from an incident that occurred on May 17 in a French Ligue 1 match, in which Wahi, while playing for his club Nice, intentionally earned a yellow card against Metz.
Wahi was arrested on May 29 by French police, just hours after scoring two goals in the victory over Saint-Étienne.
FRENCH SOCCER MATCH DESCENTS INTO CHAOS AS FURIOUS NANTES FANS VIOLATE SECURITY AND STORM FIELD
According to a spokesman for the Marseille prosecutor’s office, Wahi was released after being questioned by the authorities.
While the investigation is still ongoing, Wahi traveled to the United States and even played in Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador last weekend.
The belief is that Wahi engaged in a practice called “spot fixing,” which essentially involves manipulating events within a match that players with inside knowledge can bet on.
New York City FC forward Jovan Mijatovic receives a yellow card from referee Keylor Herrera during the second half against Querétaro FC at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY on July 28, 2024.
THE NEW EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING THE FOX ONE WORLD CUP
The Athletic says suspicions were raised when the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the governing body that runs the league in France, was alerted to suspicious betting patterns in Nice’s Ligue 1 match against Metz, which involved bets on Wahi receiving a yellow card.
Wahi received a yellow card in the 35th minute of the match against Metz, and was suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards for the next match, the first leg of a relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne, which Nice tied 0–0.
Ivory Coast’s Elye Wahi and teammate Nicolas Pepe react after missing a scoring chance against Ecuador during a World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on June 14, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP)
Wahi has not been charged with any crime as the investigation continues.
OutKick approached FIFA for comment on the matter.
