Ivory Coast's Wahi denied entry to Canada

Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi has been denied entry to Canada for his country's World Cup group game against Germany on Saturday, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged spot-fixing in Ligue 1. The 23-year-old Nice forward was reportedly arrested last month before the World Cup over allegations of deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz in May.

Background of the Allegations

Spot-fixing involves deliberately affecting specific incidents in a match to profit through betting markets. According to a statement from the public prosecutor's office in Marseille, a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was arrested as part of an investigation into organized fraud, sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime, and money laundering. The statement did not name Wahi, but the Ligue de Football (LFP) confirmed on Wednesday that they had been alerted to "an unusually high volume of bets placed on a warning involving the player Elye Wahi."

The booking in question was Wahi's fifth yellow card of the Ligue 1 season, which triggered a suspension for the first leg of Nice's relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne on 26 May. That match ended in a 0-0 draw, but Wahi returned for the second leg, scoring twice in a 4-1 victory that secured Nice's top-flight status.

Ivory Coast Federation's Response

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) issued a statement saying it had taken note of the reports but had not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings against Wahi. "To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him," the statement read. "In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team."

The federation also confirmed that Wahi would not be able to join the team's trip to Canada due to administrative issues. "The necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage," the statement said. "Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team's return."

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The Marseille public prosecutor's office confirmed that the player was released after being interviewed in police custody and that investigations remain ongoing. The LFP stated that due to the ongoing investigation and confidentiality requirements, it would not make further comments or initiate disciplinary proceedings at this stage, but reserved the right to do so depending on the investigation's progress. "The LFP reiterates that it remains fully committed to ensuring the integrity of its competitions and that it will act with the utmost firmness against any behaviour that could compromise it," the league said.

BBC Sport has contacted Wahi's representatives and FIFA for comment.

Broader Context: Denied Entry to Canada

Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry to Canada. Earlier, Ghana's Thomas Partey was refused a visa due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. The former Arsenal midfielder pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022, and is scheduled to stand trial next year. Partey had incorrectly told Canadian officials he had never been arrested or charged with a crime, leading to his denial of entry and missing Ghana's World Cup win over Panama.

After facing Germany in Toronto, the Ivory Coast will play Curacao in Philadelphia next Thursday.