French police detained Ivory Coast striker Eli Wahi on May 29 as part of an investigation into suspected gambling offenses and match-fixing, according to The Athletic. The arrest came less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Investigators are examining whether Wahe intentionally picked up a yellow card in Nice's match against Metz on May 17, when he was playing for the French club.
The Marseille public prosecutor confirmed that the 23-year-old footballer was held on suspicion of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, possessing criminal proceeds and money laundering. Prosecutors said he was released after questioning, and the case remains open. The probe began after unusual betting patterns were detected around the possibility that Wahe would be booked in the Metz match. The alleged method is known as spot fixing, the manipulation of a single event within a game for betting purposes.
In that match, Wahe was shown a yellow card in the 35th minute for a late tackle, after having already committed a foul earlier in the game. Later in the season he missed one match through suspension, then returned to the lineup and scored twice in a win that helped Nice secure its place in France's top division.
Despite the arrest, Wahe was not charged and continued his career as normal. He joined Ivory Coast's squad for the 2026 World Cup and started in the 1-0 win over Ecuador, where he also hit the crossbar. FIFA did not respond to questions about whether it knew of the investigation or whether it affected his tournament participation. Wahe, born in 2003, came through Caen's youth system and has also played for Montpellier, Lens, Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt. He joined Nice on loan in January and scored five goals in 14 league appearances in half a season.
