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Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi is currently under investigation for alleged betting-related offences in France.

The 23-year-old striker was taken into custody by French police less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Although he has not been charged with any crime, Wahi remains eligible to represent his national team while inquiries continue.

Wahi featured in Ivory Coast’s opening World Cup match against Ecuador and is expected to stay with the squad unless new developments arise.

According to The Athletic, the investigation focuses on suspicions that Wahi may have intentionally received a yellow card during Nice’s Ligue 1 clash against Metz on May 17. Authorities are said to be probing irregular betting activity linked to wagers placed on the striker being booked during that fixture.

The investigation was initiated following alerts of suspicious betting patterns associated with the match. Manipulating specific moments in a game to influence betting outcomes is commonly known as spot-fixing.

French prosecutors confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was arrested on May 29 as part of a broader inquiry into alleged organised fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and the handling of criminal proceeds. The player was later released after questioning, and the case remains open.

Wahi has not made any public statements regarding the allegations. His arrest came soon after he played a key role in helping Nice secure their top-flight status in Ligue 1. He missed the first leg of the club’s relegation play-off due to suspension but returned for the decisive second leg against Saint-Etienne, scoring twice in a 4-1 win. His standout performance earned him the man-of-the-match award before he joined the Ivory Coast camp for the World Cup.

The booking that triggered the investigation occurred in the first half of Nice’s match against Metz, when Wahi was shown a yellow card for a challenge on defender Sadibou Sane after already committing a prior foul. That caution led to his suspension for the first leg of the relegation play-off.

Wahi is considered one of Ivory Coast’s main attacking threats at the tournament. He previously represented France at youth level before switching allegiance to Ivory Coast earlier this year. The forward rose through the youth system at Montpellier and later had stints with Lens, Marseille, and Eintracht Frankfurt. After a challenging period in Germany, he joined Nice on loan in January and played a vital role in the club’s successful bid to avoid relegation.

As of now, no charges have been filed against Wahi, FIFA has not announced any disciplinary action, and he remains free to play while authorities investigate potential wrongdoing.