馃嚜馃嚬EthiopiaEast Africa
Ivory Coast's Wahi granted entry into Canada after visa resolution
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
Ivory Coast's 23-year-old forward Wahi has been granted authorization to enter Canada, resolving a previous visa issue. This allows him to join his team for their second Group E game in Canada. Canadian officials had initially delayed his visa request, seeking more information about his legal situation. Wahi was reportedly arrested last month in connection with alleged spot-fixing in France's Ligue 1, specifically for deliberately earning a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz in May. The public prosecutor's office in Marseille confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player as part of an investigation into organized fraud and sports corruption. Wahi was released after police questioning, and investigations are ongoing. The Ligue de Football Professionnel LFP was alerted to an unusually high volume of bets on a warning involving Wahi but has not initiated disciplinary proceedings at this stage. The Ivory Coast's football federation FIF confirmed the player's travel authorization, thanking various parties for their contribution. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC stated that while hosting major events, Canada's immigration laws remain consistent, and individuals are assessed based on facts and applicable law, with safety as a priority. Temporary resident permits may be granted in exceptional circumstances. Wahi's booking was his fifth in the league, leading to a suspension for a relegation play-off match. This incident follows Ghana's Thomas Part
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