Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued a lifetime ban to former Ghana international Yaw Yeboah following a high-profile investigation into gambling violations, including betting on his own matches.
In a move that underscores the league’s uncompromising approach to sporting integrity, the MLS confirmed on Monday, March 9, that both Yeboah and American midfielder Derrick Jones have been permanently expelled from the competition.
The sanctions follow an extensive probe into suspicious betting patterns during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The investigation, conducted by law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, uncovered evidence of extensive gambling on football.
Most damagingly, the league found that the pair had placed wagers on specific incidents involving their own teams.
One specific incident cited by officials took place on 19 October 2024, where the league determined that both players placed a bet on Derrick Jones to receive a yellow card.
The booking subsequently occurred during the match, and investigators concluded that the players likely shared confidential information with third-party bettors regarding their intent to be cautioned.
While the league clarified that there was no evidence to suggest the final outcomes of matches were manipulated, the breach of the gambling policy was deemed severe enough to warrant the ultimate sporting sanction.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber reiterated that the league would not compromise on its gambling regulations.
Both players were placed on administrative leave after “integrity monitoring partners” flagged suspicious alerts, leading to the detailed review.
In a statement, the league maintained that the strict enforcement of its gambling policies remains a priority and that the integrity of the competition is foundational to everything they do.
Yeboah, a former Manchester City youth prospect who also enjoyed spells at Wisla Krakow, Real Oviedo, and Numancia, had already moved on from the North American league.
The winger signed for Chinese Super League side Qingdao Hainiu on a free transfer just last month.
While the ban effectively ends his prospects of ever returning to play or coach in the United States or Canada, it remains to be seen if the MLS will request that FIFA extend the ban globally.
Yeboah, who has represented the Black Stars at the international level, now faces a significant stain on a career that once saw him touted as one of Ghana’s brightest attacking talents.
Source: Ekow Segu
