MLS Bans Two Players for Extensive Betting on Games

Major League Soccer (MLS) has taken a firm stance against gambling by banning two of its players, Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah, for betting on games. The league announced on Monday that the former players had been permanently banned after allegations of extensive gambling during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah were placed on administrative leave in October while league officials reviewed allegations of violating rules related to gambling. Both players were accused of betting on matches and sharing insider information with other gamblers. The league's investigation revealed that the players had engaged in extensive gambling activities, which included betting on Jones to receive a yellow card in an October 2024 match.

This is not the first time MLS has faced gambling allegations. In 2021, the league suspended Sporting Kansas City’s Felipe Hernandez for similar allegations before ending his contract in 2024. The recent ban comes as betting scandals have rocked professional and collegiate sports in recent years. Since the Supreme Court overturned the virtual ban on betting outside Nevada, 39 states, Washington, D.C., and the US territory of Puerto Rico have legalized some form of sports betting.