Major League Soccer (MLS) has given lifetime bans to midfielder Derrick Jones and winger Yaw Yeboah for betting on MLS matches.
An investigation by the MLS found that both players had “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams” during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
On one occasion, both players placed wagers on Jones receiving a yellow card during a match against the New York Red Bulls on 19 October, 2024.
Jones caused a foul during the 35th minute and was given the yellow card as a warning for his behavior.
A spokesperson from the league confirmed that: "MLS also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards.
"No evidence was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match."
Suspicious betting alerts were flagged by integrity companies working with MLS, and the league subsequently retained the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to help with the investigation.
With increasing numbers of players falling foul of gambling violations, MLS has asked jurisdictions around the US to remove markets on red and yellow cards.
The spokesperson explained that, out of the 41 states that allow betting, 33 of these no longer allow markets on cards, and 15 changed their rules through direct collaboration with MLS.
Both Jones and Yeboah were playing for the Columbus Crew at the time, although Jones was released from his contract last November and Yeboah was terminated in January.
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, said: “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.”
Yeboah signed with the Chinese Super League team Qingdao Hainiu last month, but he has previously played for Manchester City, Wisła Kraków and Los Angeles FC.
Jones was on the United States national under-23 team, and later played for Bethlehem Steel, Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC and Houston Dynamo.
Last month, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, pleaded not guilty to charges of pitch-rigging.
Both players were born in March 1997 in Ghana, with Jones coming from Bantama and Yeboah from Accra
