Former Ghana international Yaw Yeboah has received a lifetime ban from Major League Soccer after the league found him guilty of breaching its strict gambling regulations.
MLS confirmed the sanction on Monday, announcing that Yeboah and American midfielder Derrick Jones have both been permanently suspended following a comprehensive investigation into betting activities connected to league matches.
According to the league, neither player is currently contracted to an MLS club. However, disciplinary action was still imposed after investigators reviewed their conduct during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The probe was initiated after MLS received suspicious betting alerts through its integrity monitoring systems. In response, the league commissioned law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to carry out an independent investigation, while both players were placed on administrative leave during the process.
The investigation concluded that the two players had engaged in widespread betting on football matches, including games involving their own teams.
One incident highlighted by the league involved a wager placed on October 19, 2024, in which both players reportedly bet that Jones would receive a yellow card during a match. The event ultimately occurred during the game.
Investigators also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors regarding plans to receive yellow cards in matches.
Despite the seriousness of the violations, MLS stated that investigators found no evidence indicating that the betting activities affected the final outcome of any match.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber reiterated the league’s firm stance on protecting the integrity of the competition, emphasizing that strict enforcement of gambling policies remains essential.
Yeboah, who previously represented the Ghana national football team, enjoyed a career that included spells in Europe with clubs such as Manchester City, Real Oviedo, CD Numancia, and Wisła Kraków before later moving to MLS.
The lifetime suspension effectively ends his involvement in MLS competitions and stands as one of the league’s most severe disciplinary measures for gambling-related breaches.
The former winger recently completed a move to Qingdao Hainiu in the Chinese Super League on a free transfer last month.
Below is the full MLS statement:
