Elye Wahi and Thomas Partey barred from Canada: Two allegations being punished at the World Cup

Two very different allegations. One shared outcome. The World Cup has now produced a second high-profile case of a player being denied entry to Canada, and both stories cast uncomfortable shadows over a tournament that has barely reached matchday two.

Ivory Coast face Germany in Toronto at the World Cup on Saturday without one of their most dangerous attackers. Ghana already played their opener in the same city without their vice-captain.

Canada’s immigration laws have twice said no and both times, they had good reason.

Elye Wahi’s match-fixing arrest costs Ivory Coast against Germany

Elye Wahi will not play Ivory Coast’s Group E clash with Germany. Ivory Coast confirmed that Wahi has not been authorised to enter Canada following his arrest in France. He was arrested by French police on May 29, after scoring twice against Saint-Etienne to keep Nice in Ligue 1.

The timing was extraordinary: moments after a man-of-the-match display, anti-corruption officers were waiting. The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed the investigation concerns alleged offences of, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering.

Specifically, the probe centres on whether Wahi deliberately earned a yellow card against Metz on May 17. It was his fifth of the season triggering an automatic suspension for Nice’s crucial relegation play-off. Several bets on that booking had reportedly been flagged to authorities.

Wahi denies wrongdoing and has not been charged. Nevertheless, Canada’s border authorities drew their own conclusions. The blow for Ivory Coast is real. Wahi did play in the win over Ecuador and hit the crossbar but Emerse Fae must now reorganise without him.

Thomas Partey’s denial sets a precedent Canada was unwilling to bend

Wahi’s case follows a more serious one. Thomas Partey missed Ghana’s opening match against Panama after Canadian authorities refused his visa application. The former Arsenal star faces seven counts of rape and a count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his trial set for June 2027. Partey’s legal team brought a motion to the Federal Court to reverse the decision, but Justice Roger Lafreniere dismissed it, however, he remains free to play Ghana’s remaining matches on US soil.

His inclusion in the squad remains deeply controversial but Canada, at least, was unambiguous. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz justified his selection by citing a presumption of innocence. Canadian law, though, operates differently and made no exception for Partey.

Two cases. Two denials. The tournament rolls on.