Former Manchester City academy prospect Yaw Yeboah has been handed a lifetime ban from Major League Soccer for violating the league’s gambling regulations. Yeboah, 28, spent four years at the Etihad Stadium after arriving from Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy. He spent time on loan at Lille, FC Twente and Oviedo before leaving City in 2018.
Yeboah, who represented Ghana four times, had spells with MLS side Columbus Crew and LAFC. But now it has been announced that he will be banned from returning to the league. It is claimed that Yeboah and former teammate Derrick Jones bet that the latter would be booked for the 2024 Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls game, with Jones ultimately being booked in the 35th minute.
“Major League Soccer has permanently suspended Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah, who are not currently under contract with an MLS club, for violating the MLS Gambling Policy,” MLS said in a statement.
“After receiving a suspicious gambling alert through Integrity Partners, MLS engaged the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to investigate and the players have been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation.”
MLS Commissioner Don Garber added: “After reviewing the findings, MLS has concluded that the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In one instance, both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card in a game on October 19, 2024, which he received.”
MLS also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intentions to draw yellow cards. We found no evidence to suggest that these betting activities influenced the outcome of the match.
“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to the integrity of the game,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The league will continue to enforce its policies, increase educational efforts, and advocate for the end of yellow card gambling in all states to protect the integrity of competition for clubs, players, and fans.”
Yeboah previously won the MLS Cup while with the Columbus Crew. After leaving America, he joined China’s Qingdao Sea Ox. Jones, on the other hand, played his entire career in the United States, earning two caps with the USMNT U-23 team. He has not been affiliated with a club since leaving Columbus last year.
