What will MLS do about Suarez antics?
Leagues Cup officials banned Suarez from that competition for six games for his behavior after last week’s final; Major League Soccer is expected to add its own sanctions.
Inter Miami CF striker Luis Suarez instigated a physical altercation between Seattle Sounders and Herons players after Miami lost the Leagues Cup final Aug. 31 at Seattle’s Lumen Field. CREDIT: Major League Soccer
Suarez fate looms large
Inter Miami CF has nine matches to salvage what’s left of a disappointing season, but the Herons may be forced to play without veteran striker Luis Suarez for some or all of that stretch.
What happened?
Suarez started a scuffle between Los Garzas and the Seattle Sounders after the Sounders beat Miami 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final Sunday, Aug. 31. Immediately after the whistle, Suarez rushed over to Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas, threw his arm around Vargas’ neck and began yelling as Vargas tried to free himself. When nearby Sounders stepped in to free their teammate, players from both teams converged on the group. There was pushing and grabbing from players on both sides; Miami’s Toto Aviles and Sergio Busquets were recorded throwing punches.
During the fracas, Suarez was recorded stepping on a security official’s foot before stepping close to him and appearing to spit at or on the official.
Aftermath
Suarez eventually issued an apology on his Instagram account, and Inter Miami published a statement condemning the actions on its website.
The Leagues Cup — created by Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX — has banned Suarez for six matches in that competition; Aviles received a three-match ban and Busquets will miss two Leagues Cup matches.
The MLS disciplinary committee is believed to be reviewing the incident but hasn’t commented publicly. It likely will wait to announce what sanctions, if any, MLS will impose until after the players’ union has an opportunity to appeal the action.
The situation
Meanwhile, Inter Miami (13-5-7, 46 points) is sixth in the Eastern Conference, 11 points behind conference- and league-leading Philadelphia. But, the Herons have played fewer league matches, 25, than any other team and at least three fewer than all five teams ahead of them in the conference standings.
So? So, if Inter Miami and Philadelphia both win ALL of their remaining matches, the Herons would win their second-straight Supporters’ Shield, 73 points to 72.
Yeah, that’s ridiculously unlikely. But having games in hand gives Miami hope of improving its playoff position, earning home-field advantage for at least a round or two when the MLS Cup chase begins.
The top four teams in each conference will host postseason matches, as will the higher seeds in each subsequent round. Right now, Inter Miami is just six points out of second place, a much more realistic goal at this point.
What’s next?
The Herons play five of their final nine regular season matches at home, and just two against teams ahead of them in the standings (Charlotte and Nashville).
The Pink & Black face two challenging matches as soon as they resume MLS play this weekend, with matches at Charlotte FC (50 points, third MLS East) Saturday and at home against the Sounders (44 points, fourth MLS West) on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Down the stretch the Herons host DC United, play on the road at New York City FC and Toronto, and return to Chase Stadium for home matches against the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and Atlanta United before playing their season finale at Nashville.
Suarez or…?
Suarez, 38, hasn’t been as productive this year as he was in 2024, his first season wearing Pink & Black, but he still has 13 goals and 16 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, and his soccer IQ contributes to the Herons’ success in ways that can’t be measured. The international superstar has played in 22 of Los Garzas’ 25 MLS matches, starting 21.
If he’s banned from MLS play for any number of matches, who will take his place?
The Herons brought in 19-year-old Ecuadorian striker Allen Obando earlier this year to back up Suarez, but the youngster has played just 184 minutes in seven appearances for Miami, with one goal to his credit. Injuries have impacted his playing time, but it also seems likely he hasn’t earned coach Javier Mascherano’s confidence.
The club added another 19-year-old attacker in August, Argentinian Mateo Silvetti from Newell’s Old Boys; despite Silvetti’s pedigree, Mascherano is unlikely to start a young player who hasn’t appeared in any matches for the Herons.
Alternatives?
Mascherano seems likely to use the players he knows best to replace Suarez, designing an attack with some combination of Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende, Telasco Segovia, Baltazar Rodriguez, Fafa Picault and, perhaps, Santi Morales and Rodrigo De Paul.
I expect Messi to play a false nine in front of Segovia, Rodriguez and Allende, with De Paul and Yannick Bright in the defensive midfield, Jordi Alba and Ian Fray the wingbacks and Noah Allen and Maxi Falcon at center back.
Of course, that’s just a guess on my part, and it may well be moot if MLS decides against punishing Suarez, Aviles and Busquets.
Whatever happens, we’re in for a busy and interesting rush to the playoffs.