Two soccer players received lifetime suspensions from Major League Soccer for betting on MLS matches, the league announced on Monday.
Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah, neither currently on an MLS roster, are accused of engaging in “extensive gambling on soccer, including placing wagers on their own teams during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, according to a statement released by the league.
Jones and Yeboah both played with the Columbus Crew in 2024 and were found to have placed a wager on Jones to receive a yellow card in a match against the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 19, 2024 and likely shared that information with outside bettors.
The activity was flagged by the league’s integrity partners and the MLS decided to place the two players on administrative leave in 2025.
By that point, Yeboah was a member of Los Angeles Football Club while Jones was still rostered by Columbus.
In the league’s statement, commissioner Don Garber pushed for reform to the markets available to bettors on MLS matches, specifically singling out the ability to bet on players receiving yellow cards.
“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,” Garber said.
It’s not the first time a league has pushed for betting reform regarding niche markets.
Sportsbooks placed a $200 limit on MLB pitch-level markets after the Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on federal charges for their alleged involvement in an illegal betting scheme.
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Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
