World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast player arrested for alleged spot-fixing before tournament started, per report
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Ivory Coast footballer Elye Wahi, who plays for Nice in France and is a 2026 World Cup participant, was arrested on May 29 in connection with an investigation into alleged spot-fixing involving a deliberately earned yellow card.
- The alleged incident occurred on May 17 during a match against Metz, where Wahi received a yellow card after a late tackle, raising suspicions due to unusual betting patterns on this specific event.
- Wahi was released after police custody and has not been charged with any crime; the investigation by the Marseille public prosecutor's office into organized fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering remains ongoing.
- Despite the arrest, Wahi traveled to the United States and played in Ivory Coast's opening World Cup match, a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on June 14.
- Authorities clarified that Wahi is not a member of the French national team, and the case focuses on potential spot-fixing rather than match-fixing, which involves manipulating the overall game outcome.
