MLS Issues Lifetime Bans to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for Betting Violations
Major League Soccer (MLS) recently announced lifetime bans for players Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah due to serious gambling violations. Both players were found to have engaged in extensive betting activities, which included wagering on matches involving their own teams.
Details of the Violations
The investigation revealed that Jones and Yeboah placed bets on various soccer matches during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. A notable incident occurred on October 19, 2024, where both players bet on Jones receiving a yellow card during a match, which he ultimately did. This sparked further investigation after MLS received suspicious betting alerts, prompting them to enlist a law firm to conduct a thorough review.
Investigation Timeline
- Investigation initiated due to suspicious betting alerts.
- Players placed on administrative leave in late October 2025.
- Findings indicated betting on multiple matches through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Player Backgrounds
Derrick Jones, 28, was born in Ghana and moved to the United States as a teenager. He developed his skills in the youth ranks at Philadelphia Union and played for several teams, including Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, and Charlotte FC. Most recently, he was with the Columbus Crew, making a total of 131 league appearances in his career.
Yaw Yeboah, also 28, is a graduate of the Right to Dream academy in Accra, Ghana. He joined Manchester City in 2014 and spent time on loan before joining Wisła Kraków. In 2022, he became part of the Columbus Crew and emerged as one of the league’s premier left wing-backs, contributing to the team’s victory in the MLS Cup in 2023.
Previous Gambling Incidents in MLS
This isn’t the first time MLS has dealt with gambling-related issues. In 2021, midfielder Felipe Hernàndez of Sporting Kansas City was suspended for betting on games. After multiple violations of league gambling policies, his contract was terminated in 2024.
The bans imposed on Jones and Yeboah serve as a stern reminder of MLS’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game. The league continues to monitor betting behaviors to ensure fair play and compliance with established policies.
