Ivory Coast worldwide Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada for his nation’s World Cup group recreation towards Germany on Saturday.
The Good ahead was reportedly, exterior arrested final month earlier than the World Cup over alleged involvement in spot-fixing in Ligue 1.
Wahi, 23 – who began Sunday’s World Cup win over Ecuador – has been accused of intentionally incomes a yellow card whereas enjoying for Good towards Metz in Could.
Spot-fixing is the follow of intentionally affecting match incidents in a approach that enables individuals to revenue via betting markets.
A press release to the Athletic from the general public prosecutor’s workplace in Marseille confirmed a 23-year-old soccer participant, competing in France’s Ligue 1, was arrested, with out naming Wahi.
On Wednesday, Ligue de Soccer (LFP) confirmed that they had been alerted to “an unusually excessive quantity of bets positioned on a warning involving the participant Elye Wahi”.
The Ivory Coast’s soccer federation (FIF) say that they had not been advised of any “judicial or administrative proceedings” towards Wahi, however confirmed he had not been in a position to acquire authorisation to enter Canada.
“The Ivorian Soccer Federation has taken be aware of the varied articles and data revealed on this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, regarding the Ivorian worldwide Elye Wahi,” it mentioned in a press release.
“To this point, the FIF has not been formally notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him.
“On this notably delicate interval, the FIF extends all its help to the participant and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi stays an necessary component of the Ivory Coast nationwide staff.
“The FIF additionally informs that the participant won’t be able to affix the delegation’s journey to Canada. Certainly, the required administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory couldn’t be obtained at this stage.
“Elye Wahi will subsequently stay in america pending the staff’s return.”
After dealing with Germany in Toronto, the Ivory Coast then play Curacao in Philadelphia subsequent Thursday.
The assertion from the Marseille public prosecutor’s workplace mentioned the arrest was made “as a part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor’s workplace into allegations of organised fraud, organised sports activities corruption, dealing with of proceeds of crime and cash laundering”.
The participant was launched after being interviewed in police custody and the investigations stay ongoing, officers added.
Wahi’s reserving within the recreation was his fifth within the league so earned him a suspension for the primary leg of Good’s relegation play-off towards Saint-Etienne on 26 Could.
That recreation resulted in a 0-0 draw however Wahi returned for the second leg through which he scored twice in a 4-1 victory to assist Good hold their place within the high flight.
BBC Sport has contacted Wahi’s representatives and Fifa for remark.
The LFP mentioned: “At this stage, and given the continuing investigation and the confidentiality necessities imposed by the police authorities, the LFP won’t make any additional feedback and has not initiated disciplinary proceedings. Nevertheless, it reserves the fitting to take action relying on the progress of the investigation.
“The LFP reiterates that it stays absolutely dedicated to making sure the integrity of its competitions and that it’ll act with the utmost firmness towards any behaviour that might compromise it.”
Wahi is the second World Cup participant to be denied entry to Canada after Ghana’s Thomas Partey was refused a visa due to ongoing prison proceedings within the UK.
Former Arsenal midfielder Partey pleaded not responsible to seven expenses of rape and one depend of sexual assault regarding allegations by 4 completely different ladies between 2020 and 2022 and is scheduled to face trial subsequent yr.
Partey wrongly advised officers in Canada he had by no means been arrested or charged with a criminal offense and missed Ghana’s World Cup win over Panama consequently.
The Ghanaian authorities sought permission for him to enter the nation briefly to participate within the recreation however that attraction was rejected at a federal courtroom in Ottawa.
