The goalless draw between Nice and Metz, a rather uneventful 0-0, ultimately forced OGC Nice into a playoff against AS Saint-Étienne to secure their Ligue 1 status. Despite its sporting insignificance, this match is now at the heart of a serious investigation.

The LFP has publicly addressed the discovery of unusual international betting activity related to this specific encounter. The professional football league highlighted an abnormal volume of wagers placed on a yellow card issued to Elye Wahi during the May 17 game. This particular booking resulted in Wahi’s suspension, preventing him from participating in the crucial first leg of the barrage match against AS Saint-Étienne due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

In response, the LFP promptly forwarded all relevant information to the appropriate authorities. These include the National Police’s Central Service for Races and Games, the National Gaming Authority, and the French Football Federation. To ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, a formal complaint against an unknown party was filed on May 29, 2026. The complaint cites potential charges of sports corruption and organized fraud.

The LFP has stated it will refrain from making further comments at this stage and has not yet initiated any disciplinary proceedings. However, the league reserves the right to do so as the investigation progresses and new findings emerge.

Reports from the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirm that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 footballer was apprehended on May 29 as part of an ongoing inquiry. This investigation, launched by the Marseille prosecutor’s office, focuses on allegations of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving proceeds from a crime, and money laundering. The player was released after being questioned under police custody, and inquiries are continuing.

Elye Wahi is thus suspected of intentionally receiving this yellow card. Upon reviewing footage of the incident, the foul committed against Metz player Sadibou Sané, while clear, does not immediately appear to be deliberately engineered. While this development is expected to fuel extensive speculation in the coming hours, it seems improbable that AS Saint-Étienne will be directly impacted by any modification to the outcome of their sporting season. For context, a similar situation arose in England’s Premier League during a match between West Ham and Aston Villa, where midfielder Lucas Paqueta received a yellow card under comparable circumstances, also linked to unusual betting volumes. That investigation concluded with a simple reprimand from his national federation.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel has formally communicated its commitment to upholding the integrity of its competitions. The league confirmed it was alerted by its specialized partners monitoring sports betting markets about the atypical movements observed internationally following the OGC Nice – FC Metz match on May 17. These alerts specifically pertained to an unusual volume of bets on a caution involving player Elye Wahi. The LFP underscored that, in line with its mandate and unwavering dedication to safeguarding competition integrity, it immediately shared these details with the Central Service for Races and Games of the National Police, the National Gaming Authority, and the French Football Federation. A complaint against an unknown party was subsequently lodged on May 29, 2026, for potential acts of sports corruption and organized fraud. The LFP reiterated that, given the ongoing procedure and the confidentiality requirements imposed by police authorities, it would not provide further comments nor had it initiated disciplinary action. However, it reserved the right to do so based on the evolution of the investigations, affirming its full mobilization to ensure competition integrity and its resolve to act decisively against any conduct that might compromise it.