Elye Wahi's World Cup Dreams Dashed as Canada Denies Entry Amid Spot-Fixing Allegations
Elye Wahi, the Ivory Coast international and forward for Nice, has been denied entry to Canada for his country's crucial World Cup match against Germany on June 17, 2026. This decision comes amid serious allegations of his involvement in spot-fixing in Ligue 1. Wahi, aged 23, had reportedly been arrested last month for allegedly earning a yellow card intentionally during a match against Metz in May. Spot-fixing involves manipulating match incidents to profit from betting markets, raising significant concerns about integrity in sports. The Marseille public prosecutor's office confirmed that a player from Ligue 1 had been arrested without naming Wahi. However, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) noted an unusual surge in bets placed on incidents involving him, prompting further scrutiny. In a statement, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) expressed their support for Wahi and stated that they had not received any official notification regarding judicial proceedings against him. They confirmed that Wahi could not secure the necessary authorizations to enter Canada and would remain in the United States while the team competes. After facing Germany, the Ivory Coast is set to play Curacao in Philadelphia next Thursday. The Marseille prosecutor's statement highlighted the ongoing investigation into allegations of organized fraud and sports corruption, with Wahi having been released after police interviews. This incident marks Wahi as the second player denied entry to Canada for the World Cup, following Thomas Partey of Ghana, who also faced visa issues due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. Partey's attempt to enter Canada was rejected by a federal court after he misinformed officials about his legal troubles.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-18