MLS Bans 2 Players for Life for Betting on Matches

Midfielders Yaw Yeboah and Derrick Jones received lifetime bans for extensive gambling on league games.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Major League Soccer announced it has issued lifetime bans to midfielders Yaw Yeboah and Derrick Jones for betting on league matches, including on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The league received suspicious betting alerts and determined the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer.

Why it matters

Betting on matches, especially one's own team, is a serious integrity violation that undermines the fairness and credibility of professional sports leagues. MLS is taking a strong stance to protect the integrity of its competition and deter future instances of match-fixing or insider betting.

The details

According to the league, Yeboah and Jones bet on a match on October 19, 2024, where Jones was likely to receive a yellow card. The investigation also found the players may have shared confidential information with other bettors about yellow card incidents.

  • The alleged gambling activities took place during the 2024 and 2025 MLS seasons.
  • MLS announced the lifetime bans on March 9, 2026.

The players

Yaw Yeboah

A midfielder who spent 2022 to 2024 with the Columbus Crew and played 17 matches with Los Angeles FC in 2025.

Derrick Jones

A midfielder who spent the last two seasons with the Columbus Crew, though he appeared in just three matches in 2025.

Don Garber

The commissioner of Major League Soccer.

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What they’re saying

“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity. 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.”

— Don Garber, MLS Commissioner (covers.com)

What’s next

The league has stated it will continue to enforce its policies and advocate for the elimination of yellow card betting to protect the integrity of MLS competitions.

The takeaway

This lifetime ban highlights MLS's zero-tolerance policy for any form of match-fixing or insider betting, sending a strong message that such activities will not be tolerated and will result in severe consequences for those involved.