MLS Bans Ghanaian Star Yaw Yeboah for Life Over Gambling

Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued a lifetime ban to Ghanaian footballer Yaw Yeboah after an investigation found he violated the league’s gambling policy by betting on soccer matches, including games involving his own team.

MLS announced that Yeboah and former Columbus Crew teammate Derrick Jones were sanctioned following a probe into suspicious betting activities during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

According to the league, the investigation revealed that the players “engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams.”

One of the incidents examined involved both players placing a bet that Jones would receive a yellow card during an October 19, 2024 match, which ultimately happened.

The league had earlier placed the duo on administrative leave in October 2025 after receiving suspicious betting alerts before concluding its investigation.

Despite the violations, investigators said there was no evidence that match results were manipulated, though concerns were raised that confidential information may have been shared with bettors.

Yaw Yeboah, a former Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC winger, recently joined Chinese Super League side Qingdao Hainiu after leaving MLS earlier this year.

The decision underscores MLS’s strict stance on gambling as global football authorities continue to crack down on betting-related misconduct to protect the integrity of the sport.