Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed Ghanaian winger Yaw Yeboah and former teammate Derrick Jones lifetime suspensions after an investigation found they engaged in extensive gambling on soccer matches, including games involving their own teams.

The league announced the sanctions on Monday following a probe triggered by suspicious betting alerts received through integrity partners. MLS subsequently commissioned the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to conduct an independent investigation, while both players were placed on administrative leave in October 2025 pending the outcome.

After reviewing the findings, MLS concluded that the players bet on soccer matches during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including fixtures involving their own teams. In one instance, the pair placed a wager that Jones would receive a yellow card in a match played on October 19, 2024 — an incident that subsequently occurred.

Investigators also determined that the two players likely shared confidential information with other bettors regarding their intention to draw yellow cards during matches.

Despite the violations, the league said it found no evidence that the betting activities influenced the final outcome of any matches.

“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “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.”

The scandal has drawn attention to the pair’s time together at Columbus Crew during the 2024 season. Jones remained with the club through the 2025 campaign, while Yeboah moved to Los Angeles FC where he made 17 appearances before mutually terminating his contract in January. The Ghanaian has since joined Chinese Super League side Qingdao Hainiu.

Reacting to the development, Columbus Crew said it fully supported the league’s investigation and reiterated its commitment to integrity in the sport.

“The Columbus Crew are proud of the reputation we’ve established in MLS and global soccer that’s rooted in respect and integrity throughout our organization. We fully condemn all actions and notions that aren’t aligned with these critical values for our Club and any individual’s activity contradicting the principles of fair competition that are pivotal to our team, league and sport.

“The Crew – who strictly adhere to all MLS policies on educating and enforcing sports gambling regulations with team personnel – fully cooperated with the league since first learning about the inquiry regarding the players in question. Given the nature of the investigation, the Club defers all comment on its results and discipline to the league.”

Yeboah, 28, is a product of Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy and began his European career with Manchester City in 2014 before spells with several clubs, including Polish side Wis?a Kraków. He joined Columbus Crew ahead of the 2022 season and played a key role in the club’s MLS Cup triumph in 2023, establishing himself as one of the league’s most effective left wing-backs.

Jones, also 28, was born in Ghana but moved to the United States as a teenager. He rose through the ranks at Philadelphia Union and later played for Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC and Columbus Crew, making more than 130 league appearances in MLS.

The suspensions represent one of the toughest disciplinary actions taken by the league in relation to gambling violations. In 2021, Sporting Kansas City midfielder Felipe Hernández was suspended for betting on matches and later had his contract terminated in 2024 after a second breach of league rules.