Major League Soccer has imposed a lifetime ban on Ghanaian footballer Yaw Yeboah, barring him from any further participation in the league, AhotorSports has learnt.
This severe penalty stems from violations of the MLS Gambling Policy, as the league concluded an extensive investigation that began after Yeboah and another player, Derrick Jones (formerly of the Columbus Crew), were placed on administrative leave in late October 2025.
The probe revealed that both players had engaged in widespread gambling on soccer matches over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Critically, this activity included placing bets on games involving their own teams.
In one documented instance, ahead of the Columbus Crew’s match against the New York Red Bulls on October 19, 2024, both Yeboah and Jones wagered on Jones receiving a yellow card during the game—an outcome that ultimately occurred.
Such actions represent a direct breach of strict rules prohibiting players from betting on any matches in which they have involvement or influence, as these policies exist to protect the integrity of competition and prevent potential match manipulation or insider advantages.
At the time of the ban’s announcement on March 9, 2026, neither player was under contract with an MLS club. Yeboah, who had most recently played as a midfielder/winger for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) after previously featuring for the Columbus Crew, saw his contract with LAFC mutually terminated in January 2026 amid the ongoing review.
The Ghana international, now in his late 20s, had made appearances in MLS regular-season games, including scoring and assisting during his time in the league, but the lifetime suspension effectively ends his career in Major League Soccer.
This case highlights the league’s zero-tolerance stance on gambling-related infractions, especially those involving bets on one’s own matches, aligning with broader efforts across professional sports to safeguard competition amid the growth of legalized sports betting. Yeboah’s ban, alongside that of Jones, marks a significant enforcement action by MLS in response to these findings.