MLS issues Suarez three-match ban for Leagues Cup actions

Inter Miami CF striker Luis Suarez will miss the Herons’ next three MLS matches as well as the team’s next six Leagues Cup games for his role in an alteration between Miami and Seattle after the Leagues Cup final a week ago. CREDIT: Major League Soccer

Three is enough; let’s move on

It took more than a week, but on Monday Major League Soccer finally announced its punishment for Luis Suárez’ role the on-field altercation between Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders players after the 2025 Leagues Cup final Aug. 31.

“El Pistolero” is suspended for Miami’s next three MLS matches and fined an undisclosed amount for holding a Seattle player by the neck and spitting on a security official after the Herons lost 3-0 to the Sounders in Los Garzas’ first final since 2023.

Does the punishment fit the transgression? Technically, yes; it’s similar to MLS sanctions for other spitting incidents in recent years, and Leagues Cup officials already banned Suarez from the next six matches he’s eligible to play in that competition.

Considering Suarez’ track record, though, I was hoping for more. The 38-year-old Uruguayan legend, one of the best strikers of his generation, may be better remembered for three separate incidents in which he bit, and at least one allegations of directing a racial slur at, opponents (for more details, see Michelle Kaufman’s story in the Miami Herald). Add to that his role in starting the Leagues Cup fracas, and I believe MLS would have been justified if it choice to ban him for the rest of the season.

MLS made a good choice

But my greatest fear was that Major League Soccer would take no action beyond the Leagues Cup ban. The competition is a partnership between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX and has CONCACAF’s blessing, but the league could argue that the fracas didn’t happen in an MLS competition and deferred to Leagues Cup officials.

That would have been a terrible mistake, considering Suarez’ high profile and that he plays for Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, already believed by many to receive special treatment because its roster includes worldwide icon Lionel Messi and several of his very well-paid, very talented and very popular friends.

True or not, failing to take significant action against Suarez only would have fed the flames.

So, let’s move on. Three games isn’t nothing, especially considering the Herons have just nine matches remaining and hope to improve their playoff position (the Pink are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, 11 points behind the Philadelphia Union).

Inter Miami will play at Charlotte on Saturday before hosting Seattle the following Tuesday, two tough matches with or without a veteran striker. Suarez will miss both games and the Sept. 20 home match against D.C. United.