Suárez, Suspended 6 Matches for Spitting: Sanction in the Leagues Cup

Luis Suárez Suspended for Spitting at Seattle Sounders Staff Member

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has been suspended for six matches by the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee, after spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member following the tournament final. The incident occurred after the Seattle Sounders defeated Inter Miami 3-0 in the final. A fight broke out after the final whistle, during which Suárez had to be restrained by his teammates and coaches before spitting at a member of the opposing team’s staff. In the midst of the altercation, Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets punched Seattle player Obed Vargas. Inter Miami defender Tomás Avilés was also involved in aggressive conduct.

• Busquets has been suspended for two matches.
• Avilés will be suspended for three matches.

The committee also imposed additional sanctions on Steven Lenhart, a member of the Seattle Sounders coaching staff, who will have to serve a five-match suspension for violating Article 4.2.C of the 2025 Leagues Cup Competition Regulations.

“According to the Leagues Cup Regulations, the four sanctioned individuals will also receive fines as a result of their conduct. All suspensions must be served in the next edition or editions of the Leagues Cup until they are fully completed,” the committee stated in a statement.

The statement also noted that “Major League Soccer (MLS) reserves the right to impose additional disciplinary actions on the players and coaching staff involved”. The MLS has not made an official announcement about additional suspensions. The Leagues Cup is an annual tournament held each summer between MLS and Liga MX clubs, so suspensions will not apply until the 2026 edition. Suárez and Busquets’ contracts with Inter Miami expire at the end of the season. Suárez apologized for his behavior after the final, publishing a statement on his social media.

“It was a moment of great tension and frustration, where right after the match ended things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but that doesn’t justify my reaction,” he wrote.

“I made a mistake and I sincerely apologize. It’s not the image I want to project to my family, who are suffering because of my mistakes, or to my club, who also don’t deserve to be affected by something like this.”

Inter Miami also issued a statement, saying that the club “condemns the altercations that took place after the conclusion of the Leagues Cup Final”.