With the Kansas City Royals and Sporting Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes was busy acquiring stakes. The latter was hailed as a coup for the MLS club. The Chiefs QB 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 and praised Mahomes. But who knew things would go so wrong?

This dream partnership has hit a major bump in the road with the recent gambling scandal involving Sporting KC midfielder Felipe Hernandez. Similarly, it is sad news for the Patterson family- one of the principal owners of Sporting KC.

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. Back in 2021, he was suspended without pay for the remaining season after he reportedly violated gambling rules by the league. When an investigation was done by MLS, Hernandez indicated that he had a gambling addiction, and hence, wagered on two MLS games.

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.

Did Hernandez’s second strike blow 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’s relapse, the team has seemingly compromised its ability to control player behavior and maintain standards of professionalism.

In fact, Hernandez had promised to work harder and help Sporting KC achieve its goals. But the recent incident casts a shadow over his promise. 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.

However, Hernandez isn’t the only athlete to do something like this. Earlier this month, MLB banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life. Why? As per the information available, he was caught betting on the sport. This is something relatively rare in the sport, as Marcano was the first active player to receive such a punishment in more than a century.

Similarly, the NBA banned Jontay Porter (Toronto Raptors) for allegedly sharing sensitive data with gamblers and also for betting. Now with Hernandez’s recent incident, people will have to wait and watch what happens. Sporting Kansas City’s Rob Thomson (chief communications officer) refused to comment on the matter.