Two Former Columbus Crew Players Banned from MLS for Life Over Betting

Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah found to have bet on their own matches, including manipulating yellow cards for gambling purposes

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Major League Soccer has banned former Columbus Crew players Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for life after an investigation found they bet on soccer matches, including games involving their own teams, and may have manipulated yellow card penalties for gambling purposes. The league said the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but no evidence was found that their betting activities affected any match outcomes.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious threat that sports betting and match-fixing pose to the integrity of professional sports leagues. MLS has taken a strong stance against any such activities, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the fairness and credibility of its competition for clubs, players, and fans.

The details

According to MLS, the investigation found that Jones and Yeboah placed bets on soccer matches, including instances where they bet on Jones receiving a yellow card during a match, which he subsequently received. The league also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards.

  • On October 19, 2024, both players placed bets on Jones receiving a yellow card during a match, which he subsequently received.
  • In October 2025, MLS placed Jones and Yeboah on administrative leave while the investigation was ongoing.

The players

Derrick Jones

A former player for the Columbus Crew who was found to have bet on soccer matches, including games involving his own team, and may have manipulated yellow card penalties for gambling purposes.

Yaw Yeboah

A former player for the Columbus Crew who was found to have bet on soccer matches, including games involving his own team, and may have manipulated yellow card penalties for gambling purposes.

Don Garber

The Commissioner of Major League Soccer, who stated that the league remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity and will continue to enforce its policies, enhance education efforts, and advocate for the elimination of yellow card wagering.

Columbus Crew

The MLS club that previously employed Jones and Yeboah, and which stated that it fully cooperated with the league's investigation and defers all comment on the results and discipline to MLS.

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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 (MLS)

“The Columbus Crew are proud of the reputation we've established in MLS and global soccer that's rooted in respect and integrity throughout our organization. We fully condemn all actions and notions that aren't aligned with these critical values for our Club and any individual's activity contradicting the principles of fair competition that are pivotal to our team, league and sport.”

— Columbus Crew (MLS)

What’s next

MLS stated that it will continue to enforce its policies and enhance education efforts to protect the integrity of its competition.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of preventing sports betting and match-fixing in professional sports, and the importance of leagues like MLS taking a strong stance to uphold the fairness and credibility of their competitions.