Former Man City player handed lifetime ban as league releases statement | Football | Sport
Former Manchester City academy prospect Yaw Yeboah has been slapped with a lifetime Major League Soccer ban after violating the league’s gambling regulations. Yeboah, 28, spent four years at the Etihad Stadium after arriving from the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana. He had loan stints with Lille, FC Twente and Oviedo before departing City in 2018.
Yeboah, a four-time Ghana international, enjoyed periods with Columbus Crew and LAFC in MLS. But it has now been announced that he is barred from returning to the league. It was claimed that Yeboah and former team-mate Derrick Jones gambled on the latter receiving a booking in a 2024 fixture between Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls, with Jones ultimately collecting a caution in the 35th minute.
Both players have now been handed bans, with a statement from the MLS declaring: “Major League Soccer has issued lifetime suspensions to Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah, neither of whom is currently under contract with an MLS club, for violating the MLS Gambling Policy.
“After receiving suspicious betting alerts through integrity partners, MLS retained the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb and Tyler LLP to conduct an investigation, and the players were placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the review.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber added: “After reviewing the results of the investigation, MLS concluded that the players engaged in extensive gambling on soccer, including on their own teams, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In one instance, both players bet on Jones to draw a yellow card during an October 19, 2024 match, which he received.”
MLS also determined that the players likely shared confidential information with other bettors about their intent to draw yellow cards. No evidence was identified that suggested any of these betting activities affected the outcome of a match.
MLS commissioner Don Garber stated: “Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity. The League will continue to enforce its policies, enhance education efforts, and advocate for the elimination of yellow card wagering in all states to protect the integrity of our competition for clubs, players, and fans.”
Yeboah had previously lifted the MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew during his spell at the club. Following his departure from America, he joined Chinese outfit Qingdao Hainiu. Jones, meanwhile, has played his entire career in the States and earned two caps for the USMNT under-23 team. He has remained without a club since departing Columbus last year.
