Striker Eli Wahi, currently representing Ivory Coast in the World Cup, has been arrested on suspicions of spot-fixing in Marseille, as confirmed by ABC News on Wednesday. His detention occurred just weeks before the tournament commenced, although he was released shortly thereafter. The Marseille public prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation.
The French Football League (LFP) reported an “extraordinary amount of bets” placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match against Nice in May. Wahi had a notable start in Ivory Coast’s World Cup campaign, contributing to their 1-0 victory over Ecuador, where he nearly scored by hitting the crossbar early in the second half. The team is poised to face Germany in Toronto on Saturday.
The LFP revealed that they received an alert from their betting market monitoring partners regarding suspicious gambling activity linked to the May 17 home game between Nice and Metz, which ended in a goalless draw but saw Wahi issued a yellow card.
Investigation Procedures Underway
The LFP, while refraining from naming Wahi directly, announced, “Criminal charges have been filed against unidentified persons for alleged acts that may amount to sports corruption and organized fraud.” The league has promptly shared this information with appropriate police and gambling authorities, as well as the French Football Federation. Additionally, LFP has undertaken its own legal actions.
Despite inquiries, representatives for Wahi have not yet provided comments on the situation. It’s important to note that the match on May 17 marked the conclusion of the Ligue 1 season.
Less than two weeks following the controversial match, Wahi played a pivotal role in a 4-1 victory over Saint-Etienne in the second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off, helping Nice avoid relegation from Ligue 1. At just 23 years old, Wahi joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January, where he has netted nine goals in 18 appearances, also aiding in Nice’s advancement to the French Cup final.
A dynamic striker noted for his speed and first touch, Wahi was once regarded as one of Europe’s most promising talents, with transfer fees amounting to nearly 90 million euros ($104 million) across multiple moves. Three years prior, he scored 19 league goals, which led to his transfer from Montpellier to Reims for €35 million, bypassing an opportunity with Premier League’s Chelsea.
Reims subsequently sold his contract to Marseille for 25 million euros the following season. However, after just 13 league appearances, Wahi moved to Frankfurt under a five-and-a-half year deal worth 26 million euros but struggled to make an impact, scoring only once in 25 matches.
Spot match-fixing refers to the illegal manipulation of specific events within a match, typically for betting purposes, while leaving the match’s overall outcome intact. This report incorporates information from ABC News and The Associated Press.
