Major League Soccer announced on Monday that it has handed lifetime bans to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah.
An investigation found the players engaged in extensive gambling, including betting on matches involving their own teams.
Investigation Triggered by Suspicious Betting Alerts
The league said it received “suspicious betting alerts” before launching an investigation and hiring an external law firm to examine the matter.
Both players were placed on administrative leave in October 2025 while the review was carried out.
Betting on Matches Involving Their Team
According to MLS, the investigation found that Jones and Yeboah placed numerous bets on soccer during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
“In one instance, both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card during an Oct. 19, 2024 match, which he received,” the league said in a statement.
Teammates at Columbus Crew
The pair were teammates at Columbus Crew during the 2024 season.
Jones remained with the club in 2025, while Yeboah moved to Los Angeles FC, making 17 appearances before the termination of his contract by mutual consent in January.
Yeboah has since continued his career in China.
Career Background of the Players
Jones, 28, was born in Ghana but moved to the United States as a teenager and came through the academy of Philadelphia Union.
He later played for:
- Nashville SC
- Houston Dynamo
- Charlotte FC
Yeboah, also 28, rose through the Right to Dream Academy before joining Manchester City in 2014.
He later returned to MLS and won the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2023.
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