Ghanaian Players Banned From MLS Matches  

Major League Soccer has handed a lifetime ban to Ghanaian winger Yaw Yeboah and midfielder Derrick Jones for betting offences involving soccer matches.

The league announced that both players broke its gambling rules after an investigation found they placed bets on soccer games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including matches involving their own teams.

In a statement, MLS said the players were found to have “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams” while playing in the league.

The investigation revealed that on October 19, 2024, the two players placed a bet on Jones receiving a yellow card in a match between Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls. Jones later received the yellow card in that game.

Both players were teammates at Columbus Crew during the 2024 season when the incident happened.

The league also said the players may have shared inside information with other bettors. According to the statement, “MLS also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards”.

However, MLS said there was no evidence that the betting activities influenced the final results of any matches. The league added that “No evidence was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match.”

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the league remains committed to protecting the integrity of the sport.

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

The investigation began after suspicious betting alerts were reported through integrity partners. MLS then hired the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to carry out an independent investigation, while both players were placed on administrative leave in October 2025.

Yeboah, 28, has played for Ghana at international level. He started his European career with Manchester City in 2014 but did not make a first-team appearance. He later played for clubs including Lille, Twente, Oviedo, Numancia and Wisła Kraków before moving to MLS.

The winger later played for Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC. His contract with Los Angeles FC was terminated in January, and he recently joined Chinese Super League club Qingdao Hainiu.

Jones, who was born in Ghana but raised in the United States, has played for several MLS clubs including Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC and Columbus Crew during his career.