2 Former MLS Players Receive Lifetime Bans for Gambling on Their Own Games

Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued lifetime bans to two former players after an investigation found they had repeatedly bet on football matches — including games involving their own team. The decision represents one of the most severe disciplinary actions in the history of a professional football league in North America and highlights the growing challenge leagues face as sports betting expands globally.

The players involved, Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah, were both previously associated with the Columbus Crew. Their case has reignited discussions about the integrity of professional sports and the increasing risks that betting markets can pose to competition.

MLS Hands Down Lifetime Bans

MLS confirmed that Jones and Yeboah were banned for life after the league concluded they had engaged in “extensive gambling on soccer” during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Investigators discovered that the players had placed bets on MLS matches, including wagers involving their own team. One particularly troubling incident occurred during a match on October 19, 2024, when the two players allegedly bet that Jones would receive a yellow card, which he ultimately did.

The suspicious betting activity initially triggered alerts from the league’s monitoring partners, prompting MLS to place both players on administrative leave in October 2025 while the investigation was conducted. Jones remained inactive, while Yeboah moved to Los Angeles FC and then to China’s Qingdao Hainiu, where he competes at the moment.

After reviewing the evidence, MLS ruled that the players had violated the league’s strict anti-gambling rules, which prohibit players, coaches, or team staff from betting on football matches.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the decision reflects the league’s commitment to maintaining trust in the competition: “The league remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” adding that MLS will continue to strengthen its policies and education programs regarding sports betting.

Calls to Eliminate Certain Betting Markets

Following the scandal, MLS officials also renewed calls for regulators to reconsider certain niche betting markets, particularly wagers tied to specific in-game events such as yellow cards.

According to league officials, these micro-bets can create opportunities for manipulation because they involve individual actions rather than full match outcomes. In the Jones case, the alleged bet on a yellow card illustrated how such markets could be exploited. Garber has advocated eliminating these types of wagers in regulated markets to protect the sport’s integrity.

The case has also drawn comparisons to gambling controversies in other professional leagues, where athletes and officials have faced similar sanctions for betting-related violations.

Growing Intersection of Sports and Betting

The MLS case arrives at a time when sports betting is expanding rapidly across North America and globally. Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, legal wagering has spread to dozens of jurisdictions.

For fans, betting can add excitement to matches. Many supporters regularly follow odds and predictions through resources such as the best football gambling sites on Bookmaker Expert to track markets for domestic leagues and international competitions.

However, for athletes and officials, the rules are far stricter. MLS policies prohibit players from betting on any soccer match worldwide, regardless of whether they are directly involved in the match.

Violations can lead to heavy suspensions, financial penalties, or permanent bans — as demonstrated in this case.

What’s Next for MLS duo?

For Jones and Yeboah, the lifetime bans effectively end their MLS careers. The league’s investigation also examined whether any match results were manipulated, though officials said there was no evidence that overall match outcomes were altered.

Still, the scandal serves as a warning to players across the league. As sports betting becomes more integrated into the fan experience, leagues are expected to increase monitoring efforts, strengthen integrity partnerships, and expand educational programs to ensure players understand the risks and consequences.

For MLS, the message is clear: betting on soccer is incompatible with playing professional football.