MLS Permanently Bans Two Players for Gambling on League Matches Including Their Own Games
MLS Permanently Bans Two Players for Gambling on League Matches Including Their Own Games
Major League Soccer (MLS) announced on Monday the imposition of lifetime bans on former players Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for violating league gambling policies. Both players had been placed on administrative leave in October 2025 pending an investigation into suspicious betting activities.
The investigation, prompted by alerts from integrity partners, was conducted by the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. It revealed that Jones, who played for the Columbus Crew, and Yeboah, formerly of LAFC and Columbus, had engaged in extensive gambling on soccer matches during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including bets on their own teams.
A notable example occurred during an October 19, 2024, match between Columbus Crew and the New York Red Bulls. Both players bet on Jones receiving a yellow card, which he did in the 35th minute for a foul. The league determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber emphasized the league's commitment to integrity in a statement: “Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity. The league will continue to enforce its policies, enhance education efforts, and advocate for the elimination of yellow card wagering in all states to protect the integrity of our competition for clubs, players, and fans.”
In response to such issues, MLS has collaborated with betting jurisdictions to remove yellow and red cards from wagering options. Out of 52 jurisdictions where betting is monitored, 41 allow sports betting, and 33 of those now prohibit card bets—15 of which adjusted rules following league outreach.
Players receive mandatory training on gambling policies, including content from integrity partners, and must sign agreements confirming completion. Importantly, the investigation found “no evidence that was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match.”
Yeboah, who helped Columbus win the MLS Cup and Leagues Cup, has moved on to Qingdao Hainiu in China, where he recently debuted and scored his first goal. Jones' current status remains tied to the ban.
This incident is not isolated in MLS or American sports. In 2021, Sporting Kansas City's Felipe Hernandez was suspended for betting on MLS games, leading to contract termination in 2024. Broader trends post the 2018 Supreme Court decision legalizing sports betting have seen suspensions across leagues: the NBA issued a lifetime ban to Jontay Porter in 2024 (who later joined the USBL), while the NFL, NHL, MLB, and college sports have also disciplined players for gambling violations.