Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension following a controversial incident in the Leagues Cup final against Seattle Sounders last weekend. The former Uruguay international, who has also played for Liverpool and Barcelona, was found guilty of spitting at a Sounders official after becoming involved in a scuffle following Miami’s 3-0 loss.
The decision, announced by the Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee, confirms that Suarez will not play in next year’s edition of the tournament. However, Major League Soccer has indicated it reserves the right to impose further penalties. Alongside Suarez, his Inter Miami teammates Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles have received bans of two and three matches respectively.
The incident unfolded immediately after the final whistle in Seattle, as Suarez confronted 20-year-old midfielder Obed Vargas, putting him in a headlock. This sparked a physical altercation involving players and staff from both teams. Although order was restored, cameras later captured Suarez spitting at a Seattle security staff member as he walked away from the scene.
Suarez, who has a history of controversial behaviour, including previous bans for biting opponents and racially abusing players, publicly apologised for his actions. “It was a moment of great tension and frustration, where right after the match things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but that doesn’t justify the reaction I had,” Suarez said in a statement posted on his Instagram.
“I was wrong and I sincerely regret it… I feel bad about what happened, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge it and apologize to everyone who felt hurt by what I did,” he added.
