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

Luis Suárez has been suspended for six Leagues Cup matches after video footage appeared to show the Inter Miami forward spitting at a member of Seattle Sounders’ staff following the final whistle of the competition’s recent final.

The 38-year-old was involved in a confrontation near midfield after Inter Miami’s 3-0 defeat by Seattle Sounders. As a brawl unfolded on the pitch, footage showed Suárez approach a Sounders staff member and make contact with what appeared to be saliva to the staff member’s face while Inter Miami goalkeeper Óscar Ustari moved in to intervene.

Tournament organisers’ disciplinary officials announced the six-game sanction on Saturday. The punishment applies to Leagues Cup matches and will begin when the competition resumes in 2026, the panel said. Because the suspension is measured in matches within the Leagues Cup, its effects could extend into later editions of the tournament depending on scheduling.

Suárez issued a statement on social media after the incident saying he regretted his actions. The striker, who enjoyed a high-profile international and club career before joining Inter Miami, apologized but did not provide further detail about his conduct.

The disciplinary decision also included sanctions for three other individuals involved in the post-match disturbances, though organisers did not immediately disclose the identities of those sanctioned or the length of their punishments. Match footage showed a multi-person altercation that officials have described as unacceptable conduct following the final whistle.

Inter Miami and Major League Soccer have not released separate statements detailing any internal disciplinary measures. The Leagues Cup operates as a joint competition involving MLS and Liga MX clubs; its disciplinary panel said it reviewed video evidence of the scenes that followed the final and applied the sanctions under the tournament’s code of conduct.

The incident marks a high-profile disciplinary case late in Suárez’s career. The forward returned to prominence in MLS as part of Inter Miami’s squad but has also been involved in on-field confrontations at points during his long professional career. The six-match ban means Suárez will be ineligible for Leagues Cup competition until he has served the full suspension in future editions of the tournament.

Organisers did not specify whether appeals were planned or what additional footage or testimony factored into the panel’s decision. The Leagues Cup disciplinary process allows for appeals through established channels, and clubs routinely have the option to seek review of sanctions. Any appeal would determine whether the sanction is upheld, reduced or otherwise modified.

The fallout from the final has already drawn attention from fans and officials across both leagues. Seattle Sounders celebrated the tournament victory on the field, but the post-match brawl and subsequent disciplinary actions have overshadowed final scenes and prompted questions about matchroom security and post-game conduct protocols. Tournament organisers said they will continue to review procedures to prevent similar incidents at future events.

For now, Suárez will serve the six-match Leagues Cup suspension when the competition resumes, and Inter Miami will need to account for the absence of an experienced forward in the tournament’s coming edition while both clubs and the governing bodies consider any further steps.