Ivory Coast Star Detained Over Suspected Match-Fixing Yellow Card

Elie Wae's Arrest and Its Fallout

According to Главком: On May 29, French authorities detained Ivory Coast forward Elie Wae in connection with an investigation into suspicious betting patterns. The player is accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice. Police flagged abnormal wagers placed on Wae receiving a booking. The game in question ended in a 0-0 draw between Nice and Metz. Due to accumulating too many cards, Wae was forced to sit out the first playoff match for a spot in the top division.

Following questioning, Wae was released and has not been formally charged as of now. The investigation remains active. Despite the controversy, Wae traveled to the 2026 World Cup, where Ivory Coast opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador. He played 56 minutes in that match.

Season Stats and World Cup Broadcast Details

During the 2025/26 season, Wae made 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists. Media service Megogo has been named the official broadcaster of the 2026 World Cup in Ukraine, announcing that all tournament matches will stream exclusively on its platform. Additionally, Megogo will produce over 90 pre- and post-match studio shows. Several matches will air for free on the Megogo Sport channel, including:

• the opening match
• two quarterfinals
• both semifinals
• the third-place playoff
• the final

The 2026 World Cup has already seen its first group-stage results. Scotland edged Haiti by a single goal, with midfielder McGinn scoring the decider. Brazil also played to a draw against Morocco, with forward Saibari opening the scoring for Morocco and Vinicius equalizing for Brazil.

The situation surrounding Elie Wae underscores the ongoing fight against corruption in sports, especially as major tournaments like the World Cup draw global attention. Source: sports news.

Wae's arrest could have serious repercussions for his career and reputation, as well as for the image of the Ivory Coast national team. At the same time, the team's strong start in the World Cup shows they are capable of overcoming adversity and continuing to compete at the highest level internationally.