MLS bans Jones, Yeboah for life for betting on own games

MLS issued lifetime suspensions to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for violating the league’s playing coverage after reviewing the outcomes of an investigation.

MLS stated in a launch that upon receiving suspicious betting alerts by means of companions, the league retained a regulation agency to conduct an investigation and in October of 2025 positioned the 2 gamers on administrative league pending overview of any violations.

“After reviewing the results of the investigation, MLS concluded that the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In one instance, both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card during an October 19, 2024 match, which he received,” the league stated.

The league revealed that though each Jones and Yeboah possible shared conditional info with one another, there was no proof that advised the gamers’ betting exercise affected the end result of a match.

“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” stated MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “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.”

Yeboah kicked off his MLS profession with the Columbus Crew in 2022, and most just lately featured for LAFC in 2025, whereas Jones represented 5 totally different groups inside the league together with the Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo FC, Charlotte F.C. and the Crew.

The two gamers have been each on the Crew throughout the 2024 MLS season.

Yeboah and Jones aren’t beneath contract with any MLS membership right now.