Players Banned For Life After Betting On Their Own Matches
Sports Updated: 10 March 2026 00:00 EAT
Former Nashville SC player Derrick Jones has been given a LIFETIME ban from MLS
Major League Soccer has imposed lifetime bans on midfielders Derrick Jones Amaniampong and Yaw Yeboah after concluding an internal investigation found both violated the league’s strict gambling policy. The decision, announced Monday, underscores MLS’s commitment to protecting sporting integrity amid growing concerns over betting in professional sports.
The league revealed that betting alerts flagged by its integrity partners prompted an external law firm to review the activities of the two players. Both athletes had been placed on administrative leave in October 2025 while the probe assessed whether they had breached league rules.
According to MLS findings, Jones and Yeboah engaged in “extensive gambling” on soccer matches during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including wagers on games involving their own teams. One notable instance cited by the league involved both players betting that Jones would receive a yellow card during a 2024 match — a bet that was successful.
MLS also determined the pair likely shared confidential information about planned actions on the field with others placing bets, although the league said there was no evidence that their gambling influenced any match outcomes. Commissioner Don Garber reiterated that the league’s integrity rules are non‑negotiable and emphasized ongoing efforts to educate players and advocate for broader restrictions on certain types of bets.
Neither Jones nor Yeboah is currently under contract with an MLS club. Jones, 28, most recently played for the Columbus Crew, while Yeboah, also 28, had a stint with LAFC before mutually terminating his contract in January and signing with a club in the Chinese Super League earlier this year.
The Crew issued a statement condemning the players’ actions and reaffirming its cooperation with the league throughout the investigation. The club stressed its adherence to MLS gambling policies and support for measures designed to uphold competitive fairness.
This latest disciplinary action marks one of the most severe punishments in MLS history for gambling violations, following prior league sanctions against players for betting misconduct. It also comes amid broader scrutiny of sports betting regulatory practices across major North American leagues.
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FELIX MAKONA
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