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Ivory Coast Star Denied Canada Entry Amid Match-Fixing Probe
18 Jun
Summary
- Forward Elye Wahi faces investigation for deliberate yellow card.
- He was arrested on May 29 but later released after questioning.
- Canada denied Wahi entry due to administrative issues.
Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi has been prevented from entering Canada for a World Cup match due to an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations. The 23-year-old forward is reportedly under scrutiny by French police for allegedly deliberately receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match on May 17.
Wahi was arrested on May 29 but was released following an interview. Despite no formal charges, the Ivorian Football Federation stated on Thursday that the necessary administrative authorizations for his entry into Canada could not be obtained. Consequently, Wahi will remain with the team in Philadelphia.
The investigation was initiated after betting patterns suggested suspicious activity surrounding Wahi's yellow card in the May 17 match. This card resulted in a suspension for his team, Nice, in a crucial relegation play-off first leg.
Wahi recently switched allegiance to Ivory Coast from France. He played 55 minutes in Ivory Coast's recent World Cup victory against Ecuador, hitting the crossbar before being substituted.
