Ivory Coast Forward Wahi Investigated in Betting Suspicion Case

Ivory Coast World Cup forward Elye Wahi is at the centre of an investigation in France involving suspected sports corruption linked to betting activity during a Ligue 1 match.

French authorities and the French Professional Football League (LFP) confirmed that unusual betting patterns were detected around Wahi receiving a yellow card in a match between Nice and Metz on 17 May. The LFP reported the activity after its monitoring partners identified an unusually high volume of wagers placed internationally on that specific in-game event.

According to a spokesperson from the Marseille prosecutor’s office, a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was taken into custody on 29 May as part of an investigation into organised fraud, sports corruption, handling stolen goods and money laundering. While the player was not officially named as a suspect, reports from French media later identified Wahi as the individual involved.

The LFP stated that it had alerted authorities immediately after detecting suspicious betting activity, but confirmed that no disciplinary proceedings had yet been initiated. Officials added that they would not provide further comments while the investigation is ongoing.

The Ivory Coast national team said it had no information regarding the case, and Wahi’s representatives have not issued a public statement.

The case comes amid growing scrutiny of sports betting integrity, particularly as betting markets continue to expand globally. France legalised online sports betting more than a decade ago, while the United States has seen rapid growth in the sector since 2018.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no formal charges have been confirmed at this stage.