Bad News for Millionaire Patrick Mahomes as Gambling Scandal Leads to Ban in Sporting Kansas City

When news broke that Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar quarterback, had acquired a stake in Sporting Kansas City, it was hailed as a coup for the MLS club.

As Mahomes himself stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to join Sporting Kansas City’s ownership team and strengthen my connection to the fans and the city I love.” Cliff Illig, Sporting KC’s principal owner, echoed this sentiment, praising Mahomes as “a tremendous ambassador for Kansas City” and expressing excitement about the quarterback’s commitment to “elevating the sport of soccer.”

However, this dream partnership has hit a major bump in the road with the recent gambling scandal involving Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Hernandez. According to reports, Hernandez has been placed on administrative leave for allegedly violating the league’s gambling policies–a jarring déjà vu moment, as the Colombian was previously suspended in 2021 for the same transgression.

Bad news. MLS announces #SportingKC midfielder Felipe Hernandez is on administrative leave following a report that he violated the league’s gambling policies. He had previously been suspended in Oct. 2021 for violating the league’s gambling policies. His career may be done.

— Jimmy Mack (@jcmack03) June 14, 2024

Hernandez’s 2022 reinstatement came with a clear caveat: “Continued abstinence from gambling,” a condition he appears to have flagrantly disregarded. This development has cast a pall over Mahomes’ involvement with the club, leaving fans wondering if the quarterback’s investment was a savvy move or a risky gamble that could potentially tarnish his reputation.

Hernandez’s second strike blows over Patrick Mahomes’ desire for a winning culture?

As the investigation into Hernandez’s alleged gambling violations continues, the fallout from this scandal extends far beyond the player’s individual circumstances. Jimmy Mack, a respected sports journalist, succinctly summed up the gravity of the situation, stating, “His career may be done.”

Hernandez’s repeated disregard for the league’s strict gambling policies has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the support and counseling services provided to him by Sporting KC and the MLS following his initial suspension in 2021. As Mack aptly pointed out, “The terms of his reinstatement in 2022 specified that he must continue to abstain from gambling, and the league and his club both committed to helping him receive support and counseling as necessary.”

Sporting KC’s integrity as well as its ability to foster a winning culture are put in doubt by this scandal. As Cliff Illig acknowledged, Mahomes’ involvement was partially driven by his reputation for “cultivating a winning culture.” On the other hand, by failing to stop Hernandez relapse, the team has seemingly compromised on its ability to control player behavior and maintain standards of professionalism.

Even a whiff of impropriety can be devastating in high-stakes professional sports where athletes are glorified like modern-day gladiators and everything they do is scrutinized. In this figure-of-speech war, Hernandez’s missteps have not only threatened his own career but have cast shadows over Mahomes’ MLS interludes.