Canada Grants Visa to Elye Wahi After Initial Refusal Over Spot-Fixing Probe

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been granted permission to enter Canada and is now eligible to play in his country’s second World Cup Group E match against Germany, following an initial visa refusal linked to an ongoing spot-fixing investigation in France.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) had earlier announced that Wahi would miss Saturday’s fixture in Toronto after Canadian authorities delayed his visa approval.

A source close to the player confirmed that Canada requested additional information regarding his legal situation before authorizing his entry.

Wahi, 23, was questioned by French prosecutors last month over suspicions of spot-fixing during a Ligue 1 match while on loan at Nice.

The case centers on a yellow card he received in a 0-0 draw against Metz in May, after betting authorities flagged unusual wagering activity on that specific outcome.

The French football league (LFP) has lodged a complaint with police, citing potential ‘sporting fraud and organized corruption.’

The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed Wahi was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation into ‘organized fraud, sporting corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.’ He was later released, with inquiries ongoing.

Wahi’s lawyer, Marie Dose, emphasized that the player is not facing charges and is under no judicial restrictions. ‘He was questioned for a few hours and released. Elye Wahi is therefore not subject to any legal constraints,’ she said.

The FIF expressed full support for the striker, describing him as ‘an important element for the Ivory Coast national team.’

Wahi, born in France, switched allegiance to Ivory Coast in March and featured in their opening 1-0 victory over Ecuador last Sunday.

Ivory Coast will face Germany in Toronto on Saturday before concluding their group-stage campaign against Curaçao in the United States on June 25.