Major League Soccer bans two former players for 'extensive gambling' on matches Major League Soccer has indefinitely suspended former players Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for engaging in widespread gambling on matches, the league announced Monday. The decision follows an investigation that revealed the players bet on their own games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including placing wagers on specific outcomes such as Jones receiving a yellow card during an October 2024 match. The league confirmed that Jones, 29, and Yeboah, 28, were placed on administrative leave in October 2025 after receiving suspicious betting alerts from partners. Jones, who last played for the Columbus Crew in 2024 and 2025, appeared in 23 games during that period. Yeboah, a former Crew teammate, joined Los Angeles FC in 2025. The investigation found that the pair likely shared insider information with other bettors, further violating league policies. MLS Commissioner Don Garber emphasized the league’s commitment to maintaining match integrity, stating that it will continue enforcing its betting rules and advocating for the elimination of yellow card wagering in all states. The Crew issued a statement condemning the players’ actions, noting their strict adherence to MLS policies on sports gambling. The club confirmed full cooperation with the league’s investigation. This marks another instance of MLS taking disciplinary action against players for gambling violations, following the suspension of Sporting Kansas City’s Felipe Hernandez in 2021 and his subsequent contract termination in 2024 for repeated policy breaches. Gambling, particularly prop bets, has become a growing concern for North American sports leagues amid the legalization of sports betting.#major_league_soccer #derrick_jones #yaw_yeboah #don_garber #columbus_crew
