SOCCER: MLS bans Jones, Yeboah for life after gambling investigation

Major League Soccer has issued lifetime bans to midfielder Derrick Jones and winger Yaw Yeboah for violating the league’s gambling policy, the MLS announced Monday.

Jones, 29, played 23 games for Columbus Crew during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Yeboah, 28, was his teammate at the Crew before joining Los Angeles FC in January 2025, after three seasons with Columbus.

The league launched an investigation after receiving alerts of suspicious betting activity. MLS determined that both players engaged in extensive gambling on matches, including bets on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The violations covered Jones’ time at Columbus and Yeboah’s stints with the Crew in 2024 and LAFC in 2025. In one instance, the players placed wagers on Jones receiving a yellow card during Columbus’ 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on October 19, 2024 — a bet that came true.

Investigators also found that the two likely shared confidential information with other gamblers about their intentions to receive bookings. However, there was no evidence that these activities influenced match outcomes.

Both players were provisionally suspended in October 2025 while the investigation was ongoing. Yeboah, who has been capped by Ghana, later joined Chinese Super League side Qingdao Hainiu after mutually terminating his contract with LAFC in January.

Jones, born in Ghana and having represented the U.S. at under-20 and under-23 levels, is currently a free agent after being released by Columbus in November.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement that 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.”

-Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters