Ivory Coast Footballer Arrested Over Spot-Fixing Allegations

Less than two weeks before he started for Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, forward Elye Wahi was reportedly arrested by French police as part of an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations. The 23-year-old striker is suspected of deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Ligue 1 club Nice against Metz on May 17, an incident that has triggered an investigation into organized fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering.

According to a report by The Athletic, suspicious betting patterns were flagged to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) regarding wagers placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card during the Nice-Metz fixture. The former RC Lens and Montpellier forward was indeed shown a caution in the 35th minute following a late challenge on Metz defender Sadibou Sane. The booking meant Wahi reached the suspension threshold, forcing him to miss the first leg of Nice’s relegation playoff against Saint-Etienne.

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Wahi was arrested by French police on May 29—ironically, immediately after he scored twice in Nice’s 4-1 victory over Saint-Etienne in the second leg, a performance that secured the club’s Ligue 1 status and earned him man of the match honours. A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 footballer had been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of “organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.” The player was subsequently released after being interviewed in police custody and has not been charged with any offence, with the investigation remaining ongoing.

Despite the investigation, Wahi travelled to North America for the World Cup and started in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 Group E victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia, hitting the crossbar in the second half before being substituted. The forward, who represented France at youth level before switching allegiance to Ivory Coast earlier this year, was named in the Ivorian World Cup squad on May 15—just days before the match at the centre of the investigation. It remains unclear whether the ongoing case could affect Wahi’s eligibility to continue playing in the tournament, with Ivory Coast next facing Germany in Toronto on Saturday. FIFA has not commented on whether it was informed of Wahi’s arrest before his appearance against Ecuador.

Ivory Coast Footballer Arrested Over Spot-Fixing Allegations

World Cup 2026: Why Saudi Arabia’s Flag Cannot Touch the Ground

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has not only delivered excitement on the pitch but has also sparked curiosity over a unique tradition involving the Saudi Arabia national flag.

Ahead of Saudi Arabia’s opening Group H match against Uruguay, football fans noticed that while other national flags were laid out on the field during FIFA’s pre-match ceremony, the Saudi flag was handled differently and never allowed to touch the ground.

The reason lies in the flag’s deep religious significance.

Unlike most national flags, the Saudi Arabian flag bears the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith written in Arabic, which translates to: “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Because these words are considered sacred in Islam, the flag is treated with exceptional reverence both within Saudi Arabia and internationally.

For this reason, Saudi authorities maintain strict rules regarding the display and handling of the flag. It must not touch the ground, water, or any surface that could be considered disrespectful. The same principle applies to its use on disposable items, promotional materials, or objects that may be stepped on or discarded.

This special status has led international organizations, including FIFA, to adopt specific protocols whenever the Saudi flag is displayed at major sporting events. During the World Cup 2026, organizers ensured that the flag remained elevated rather than being spread across the pitch alongside those of other competing nations.

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The Saudi flag is also unique in another important way. It is the only national flag in the world that is never flown at half-mast, even during periods of national mourning or after the death of a king.

Saudi authorities argue that lowering a flag bearing the Shahada would be inappropriate because the inscription represents eternal religious beliefs rather than a political institution. As a result, the flag remains fully raised at all times.

The design itself also sets the flag apart from others. Since Arabic is read from right to left, the inscription must appear correctly on both sides of the flag. To achieve this, Saudi flags are often manufactured with two identical panels sewn together, ensuring the sacred text remains readable from either direction.

The flag’s origins date back to banners used by forces allied with the House of Saud during the kingdom’s early formation. Following the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia in 1932, the design evolved into its current form, featuring the Shahada above a white sword symbolizing justice, strength, and the unification of the kingdom.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues, the handling of the Saudi flag has drawn global attention and highlighted the intersection of sport, culture, and religion on football’s biggest stage.

The incident serves as a reminder that the Saudi Arabia flag is not merely a national symbol but also a sacred religious emblem, making it unlike any other flag competing in the tournament.

World Cup 2026: Why Saudi Arabia’s Flag Cannot Touch the Ground

Three Records, One Night: Messi’s Hat-Trick Powers Argentina Past Algeria

Argentina captain Lionel Messi delivered another unforgettable performance on the grandest stage of world football, scoring a stunning hat-trick to lead Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria and etch his name even deeper into FIFA World Cup history.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner struck once in the first half before adding two more goals after the break at the Kansas City Stadium, ensuring the reigning world champions secured all three points in emphatic fashion.

Beyond the victory, the match became a landmark occasion for Messi, who shattered multiple World Cup records in a single night.

The 38-year-old Inter Miami star became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score against 11 different national teams. In doing so, he moved past former Brazil great Ronaldo Nazário and Germany legend Jürgen Klinsmann, who previously shared the record with goals against 10 different countries.

Messi also set a new age-related milestone. At 38 years and 357 days, he became the oldest player ever to score multiple goals — and a hat-trick — in a World Cup match. The achievement eclipsed the long-standing record held by Cameroon icon Roger Milla, whose exploits at the 1990 tournament had stood as a benchmark for more than three decades.

The historic evening carried even greater significance as it marked Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina, extending his record as the most-capped player in the nation’s history. No other footballer has represented the South American giants as many times as the veteran playmaker.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever to grace the game, Messi continues to defy age and expectations, adding new chapters to a career already packed with records, trophies and individual honours.

Having inspired Argentina to victory over Algeria, the legendary forward will now turn his attention to the team’s next World Cup assignment against Austria on Monday, where he will seek to continue his remarkable run and guide the Albiceleste closer to another successful campaign.