Luis Suárez handed six-match Leagues Cup ban after spitting incident

Luis Suárez has been suspended for six Leagues Cup matches after footage showed the Inter Miami forward spitting at a Seattle Sounders coach in the aftermath of the final, organisers announced on Saturday.

The incident followed Seattle's 3-0 victory over Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup final. Video from the match showed Suárez confronting a Sounders staff member near the centre of the pitch as a brawl broke out after the final whistle. The striker appeared to spit at the coach, striking him in the face as Miami goalkeeper Óscar Ustari moved in to intervene.

Organisers said the six-match suspension will be served when the Leagues Cup resumes in 2026. Because the competition's fixtures are spread across seasons and depend on teams' progress in future tournaments, the punishment could extend into 2027 and beyond. In addition to Suárez's ban, the organisers said three other individuals involved in the post-match altercation had been sanctioned.

Suárez, 38, posted on social media following the disciplinary decision, saying he "regrets" his actions and apologised. The striker did not provide further details in his statement.

The ruling removes Suárez from Leagues Cup availability for multiple matches and could leave Inter Miami without one of their most experienced attacking options in future editions of the competition. The club has not released a further comment on the suspension or whether it will appeal.

The Leagues Cup final erupted into confrontation at full time, with players and staff from both teams entering a heated exchange captured and circulated widely on social media and broadcast replays. Competition organisers reviewed match footage and issued the sanctions after their disciplinary process.

Suárez is a high-profile player whose conduct has drawn attention throughout his career. The latest sanction comes as Major League Soccer and tournament organisers emphasise disciplinary standards for player and staff behaviour during and after matches.

Organisers did not provide publicly available details on the identity of the Sounders coach who was struck or the specific sanctions applied to the three other sanctioned individuals. They said any further procedural matters, including potential appeals, will be handled in accordance with the competition's disciplinary regulations.

The Leagues Cup, featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, will next be contested in 2026. The timing and structure of future editions will determine how quickly Suárez serves his suspension and whether it affects Inter Miami's roster plans for domestic or international competitions in the 2026–27 period.