Striker Elye Wahi, representing Ivory Coast in the World Cup, was detained for alleged spot-fixing in Marseille just weeks before the tournament, as confirmed by ABC News on Wednesday.
He was quickly released after being taken into custody, with the investigation led by the prosecutor in Marseille.
The French football league announced that they were alerted to an “unusual amount of bets” placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match against Nice in May.
Wahi started in Ivory Coast’s opening game of the World Cup, helping the team secure a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, where he notably hit the crossbar in the second half. The team is set to face Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The French league’s statement revealed that suspicious betting activity was noted during Nice’s home game against Metz on May 17, which ended in a 0-0 draw and included Wahi being issued a yellow card.
“Alerts were received regarding an unusually high volume of bets being placed on a yellow card for Elye Wahi,” stated the Professional Football League (LFP), indicating that they promptly relayed this information to law enforcement and gambling authorities, along with the French Football Federation.
The LFP has also initiated legal action of its own.
“A criminal complaint has been filed against unknown individuals for potential acts of sports corruption and organized fraud,” the LFP announced, without explicitly naming Wahi.
Wahi’s representatives did not respond to requests for comments immediately.
May 17 marked the final matchweek of the Ligue 1 season.
Shortly after the allegations arose, Wahi played a crucial role in helping Nice avoid relegation by scoring two goals in a 4-1 victory over Saint-Etienne during the second leg of their promotion-relegation playoff.
The 23-year-old striker joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January, netting nine goals in 18 appearances, and aiding Nice in reaching the French Cup final.
A dynamic player known for his speed and skillful first touch, Wahi was once hailed as one of Europe’s rising star strikers. His transfer fees have reached nearly 90 million euros ($104 million) across various clubs.
Three years prior, Wahi made a move to Lens from Montpellier for 35 million euros after a standout season with 19 league goals, turning down interest from Premier League side Chelsea.
Following that, Lens sold Wahi’s contract to Marseille for €25 million the next season. Just 13 league games later, he signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Frankfurt for which they paid €26 million, receiving only one goal in return over 25 matches.
Spot-fixing refers to the illicit manipulation of a specific element of a game, often for betting gain, usually without influencing the final outcome of the match.
Information from ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.