The 23-year-old Ivorian was blocked due to an investigation into possible betting fraud: after further clarifications, the Canadian authorities gave permission to enter the country
Elye Wahi will be there against Germany, and this is already not obvious news. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast striker, who spent his last season at Nice on loan from Eintracht, has obtained authorization to enter Canada for the second match of Group E scheduled in Toronto on Saturday at 10pm Italian time. He was initially denied a landing permit due to an investigation into a possible betting fraud in which the attacker was involved, but after an appeal and further clarification from his lawyers, the Canadian authorities granted the visa. The player’s representatives have demonstrated that there are currently no formal charges or judicial impediments against him. But the whole story is evolving.
ARREST
—
Wahi started the Ivorians’ first match against Ecuador, also hitting the crossbar and taking seven as a mark in a match won 1-0 by his team. Subsequently it became known of the investigation opened in France for anomalous bets on a yellow card he received in a match on 17 May between Nice and Reims. The French League had noticed the exaggerated volume of bets on his yellow card and had alerted the competent authorities. “The Athletic” had written that Wahi had been arrested, and then released, on May 29 in France: suspected of having directed the bets, he is being investigated by the Marseille prosecutor’s office for sports fraud, corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering. The prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest, declaring that “a 23-year-old professional player in France had been arrested as part of the investigation.” After an interrogation he was released without detention. The Ivorian federation denounced Canada’s behavior, then got the green light. Ivory Coast’s next match is scheduled in Philadelphia, in the United States where the attacker has so far had no legal problems. Wahi fared better than Thomas Partey of Ghana, who was banned from entry by Canadian authorities and was unable to play against Panama on June 17 in Toronto. The Villarreal midfielder, formerly of Arsenal, is awaiting trial in London after accusations of sexual assault and rape (on seven occasions). Partey has always denied all charges.