MLS Issues Lifetime Bans To Former Players Over Betting Breaches

Major League Soccer has imposed lifetime bans on footballers Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah after determining they violated the league’s gambling policy. The sanctions follow an independent investigation prompted by suspicious betting alerts that the MLS received from integrity monitoring partners.

This investigation was carried out by the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, while the players were placed on administrative leave in October 2025.

According to MLS, they discovered that Jones and Yeboah engaged in “extensive gambling on soccer” within the 2024 and 2025 domestic seasons.

Investigation Links Players To Yellow Card Betting

Investigators reviewed several wagers linked to the players, including a bet placed on Jones receiving a yellow card in a match between the Columbus Crew and the New York Red Bulls on 19 October 2024.

During this fixture, Jones was booked for a foul in the 35th minute.

The inquiry also suggested the pair may have shared confidential information with other bettors regarding their intention to receive a booking during the game. 

Despite the evidence, MLS said investigators did not find proof that the wagers altered the final outcome of any matches involved.

MLS Reaffirms Commitment To Match Integrity

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league maintains strict measures to protect competition integrity.

He added: “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.”

Jones most recently played for the Columbus Crew during the period under review. Yeboah previously represented Columbus before joining Los Angeles FC and later leaving for China.

Gambling Violations Rising Across US Sports

The case arrives amid integrity concerns on player wagering in sports since the legalisation of betting across the United States in 2018. 

MLS previously disciplined Felipe Hernandez of Sporting Kansas City for betting on MLS matches, eventually terminating his contract in 2024. 

Other American leagues have also taken decisive action in recent years. In 2024 the NBA banned Jontay Porter for life after investigators concluded he manipulated performance props to betting markets.

In 2025, Ippei Mizuhara was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a fraud and gambling scheme. He was also ordered to repay almost $17m obtained from Shohei Ohtani.