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Two former Columbus Crew teammates face permanent exclusion from North American soccer after league investigation reveals extensive gambling on matches, including wagers on their own performances.
League Investigation Uncovers Violations
Major League Soccer imposed lifetime bans on Ghanaian international Yaw Yeboah and United States youth international Derrick Jones on Monday. The league announced the decision following a months-long investigation into betting activities involving both players.
The investigation began after officials placed Yeboah and Jones on administrative leave in October 2024. League officials acted on reports of suspicious betting patterns linked to the players.
MLS stated that both athletes engaged in extensive gambling on soccer matches during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Furthermore, the league found that the players wagered on their own teams while under contract with Columbus Crew.
Specific Incidents Revealed
Investigators identified a specific incident that occurred on October 19, 2024. On that date, both Yeboah and Jones placed bets on Jones receiving a yellow card during a match. Jones subsequently received the card during gameplay.
The league also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors regarding their intent to draw yellow cards. However, MLS emphasized that investigators found no evidence suggesting these betting activities affected the final outcomes of any matches.
Player Backgrounds and Careers
Yaw Yeboah, aged 28, last represented Ghana’s national team in 2021. He earned four international caps during his time with the Black Stars. Yeboah began his professional career with Manchester City, though he never made a senior appearance for the English club. He subsequently gained experience through loan spells with clubs in France, Spain, and Belgium before joining MLS in 2022. In February 2025, Yeboah signed with Chinese Super League side Qingdao Hainiu.
Derrick Jones, aged 29, was born in Ghana but represented the United States at the under-23 level. Prior to his time with Columbus Crew, Jones played for Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, and Charlotte FC. Neither player currently holds an active contract with any club.
League Response and Integrity Measures
MLS Commissioner Don Garber addressed the sanctions in the league’s official statement. “MLS remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” Garber said.
The league’s statement underscored the severity of the violations while noting the limitations of the investigation’s findings. “No evidence was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match,” the league confirmed.
Both players now face permanent exclusion from participation in any MLS-sanctioned competitions or activities.
