Ahead of his debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ivorian striker Elye Wahi was questioned by French authorities in connection with suspicious betting patterns linked to a Ligue 1 match.

French anti-corruption police detained Wahi on May 29, just days after he helped secure Nice’s survival in Ligue 1 with a crucial double against Saint-Étienne. The inquiry stems from allegations that betting patterns suggested possible match manipulation during Nice’s 0-0 draw with Metz on May 17, where Wahi received a controversial yellow card.

Investigators focused on the timing of the card—issued in the 35th minute for a late tackle on Metz defender Sadibou Sané—after Wahi had committed a similar foul two minutes earlier on Bouna Sarr without being penalized. This fifth yellow of the season earned him a suspension for the first leg of the relegation playoffs, a match that ended 0-0 away from home.

Returning for the decisive second leg, Wahi delivered a standout performance, scoring twice and earning man of the match honors in Nice’s 4-1 victory. However, shortly after that game, French authorities took him in for questioning as part of a broader probe into organized fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and concealment.

The Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest in an official statement, noting that the 23-year-old forward was not part of the French national team participating in the World Cup. While the statement did not name the player, multiple sources identified him as Wahi—a former French youth international who switched allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the tournament.

Wahi was released without charge after questioning, allowing him to travel to the United States, where the World Cup is co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He made his tournament debut as a starter for Côte d’Ivoire against Ecuador in Philadelphia, combining effectively with teammate Yan Diomande—who was named man of the match—before hitting the crossbar. He later saw substitute Amad Diallo score the winning goal in the 90th minute (1-0).

The forward is now set to face Germany in Toronto during the second group-stage match. FIFA has not commented on whether it is aware of the investigation or whether it could affect Wahi’s eligibility or travel status.