Tue, March 10, 2026
Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah handed lifetime bans by MLS for betting on their games during 2024-25 season
Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed former midfielder Derrick Jones, 29, and former winger Yaw Yeboah, 28, lifetime bans for “extensive” gambling when they both played for Columbus Crew during the 2024-25 season. The gambling involved them placing bets on their own team, which also included them winning a bet that Jones would receive a yellow card. Yeboah later moved to Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in 2025, and some of the offences relate to that period too.
Through betting monitoring systems and integrity partners, “suspicious betting alerts” were raised and linked to Jones’ and Yeboah’s accounts. Subsequently, MLS called upon law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to undertake an investigation whilst both players were placed on administrative leave in October 2025.
The investigation reported “extensive” betting and revealed: “both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card during an 19 October, 2024 match [against New York Red Bulls], which he received.”
“MLS also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards,” added the statement from the league…
“No evidence was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match.”
Yeboah, former Manchester City academy star who was known as one of the best left-wing backs in MLS, mutually agreed to cancel his contract with LAFC in January and now plays in China. As of 2026, he is signed with Qingdao Hainiu which he was allowed to do as he was only banned from MLS, unless FIFA and the Chinese league impose bans too. Jones has been without a club since having to leave Columbus last year.
“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” MLS commissioner Don Garber voiced. “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.”
There are 52 total jurisdictions in America and 41 allow betting. 33 of those do not allow betting on yellow and red cards, and 15 of those chose not to do so following action taken by MLS.
