Major League Soccer (MLS) issued lifetime bans to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah on Monday due to violations of the league’s anti-gambling policies. They had been on provisional suspension since October pending a review.

Investigations revealed that both players placed extensive bets on soccer, including games involving their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Notably, they bet on Jones receiving a yellow card during a specific match, which he indeed received. Authorities found no evidence suggesting their betting impacted game outcomes but concluded they may have shared confidential information about their betting plans.

Don Garber, MLS commissioner, emphasized the league’s dedication to match integrity, stating:

“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.”

Both players were placed on administrative leave in October after integrity partners flagged suspicious activity. Currently, neither player is under contract; Jones had an option declined by Columbus Crew, while Yeboah mutually terminated his contract with LAFC and signed with a team in the Chinese Super League.

This is not the first instance of MLS penalizing players for gambling infractions. Previous actions include suspending Felipe Hernandez in 2021 for similar violations.