Philadelphia Union
Derrick Jones receives lifetime ban from MLS for gambling
One of the Philadelphua Union Academy’s early success stories turned into a cautionary tale with the announcement Monday that Derick Jones has been suspended for life for gambling on his own team.
Jones was the first professional signing to Bethlehem Steel FC when the Union launched their second team ahead of the 2016 USL Championship season and went on to make 31 appearances in all competitions for the Philadelphia Union from 2017-2019. He went on to play for Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC and Columbus Crew but was no longer under contract with a team in MLS.
Major League Soccer issued a lifetime suspension to both Jones and Yaw Yeboah – former teammates with Columbus Crew – for violating the MLS Gambling Policy.
“Major League Soccer remains steadfast in its commitment to match integrity,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a news release announcing the suspensions. “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.”
MLS retained the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP to conduct an investigation into the players after receiving “suspicious betting alerts through integrity partners.” Jones and Yeboah were placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the review.
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.
Jones was born in Ghana but moved to the Philadelphia area with his family as a teenager and played locally with Philadelphia Lone Star FC (then known as Junior Lone Star). He was discovered by the Union Academy staff after playing a friendly against a Philadelphia Union Academy team in 2013.
