Inter Miami's Luis Suárez suspended for 6 Leagues Cup matches after spitting incident
AP News

Inter Miami's Luis Suárez suspended for 6 Leagues Cup matches after spitting incident

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has been suspended yet again for on-field antics, this time getting a six-match ban from future Leagues Cup matches in response to his conduct — including spitting at someone — after his team lost Sunday’s final to the Seattle Sounders

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, third from left, is separated from Seattle Sounders players and staff as Sounders midfielder Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, center right facing, holds a staff member back during a fight after the Sounders won the Leagues Cup final soccer match Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has been suspended yet again for on-field antics, this time getting a six-match ban from future Leagues Cup matches in response to his conduct — including spitting at someone — after his team lost Sunday's final to the Seattle Sounders.

Suárez will not be able to play in the tournament next season, and the ban could stretch into future seasons. Inter Miami played six Leagues Cup matches this year — three in the group phase, then three in the knockout stage — on its way to the final.

The ban would not apply to Major League Soccer matches, though it is possible that Suárez could still face sanctioning from that league. The Leagues Cup is a separate competition.

Also suspended for future Leagues Cup matches for their roles in the postgame melee following Seattle's 3-0 win were Sounders coaching staff member Steven Lenhart, who drew a five-match ban; Inter Miami's Tomás Avilés, who got a three-match ban; and Sergio Busquets, banned for two matches.

All four will also be fined.

Suárez had an infamous intentional handball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals to take a semifinal spot from Ghana and has served suspensions on three occasions for biting opponents — the most recent of those in 2014, after he chomped down on the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini following a tussle in the penalty area during a World Cup match.

Suárez — a longtime teammate of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi — appeared to spit toward a member of the Sounders’ staff and grabbed at least one Seattle player by the neck during a postgame melee. MLS officials are also looking into the matter, and Suárez apologized on Thursday.

...

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, back center facing, is separated from Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas, second from right, by defender Yeimar Gómez and defender Cody Baker (33) after the Leagues Cup final soccer match Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)


“Things happened right after the match that shouldn’t have happened, but that doesn’t justify my reaction. I was wrong and I sincerely regret it,” he wrote. “It’s not the image I want to portray, neither to my family, who are suffering because of my mistakes, nor to my club, which doesn’t deserve to be affected by something like this.”

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, left, can't tip the ball past Seattle Sounders midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting, right, near the goal during the first half of a Leagues Cup final soccer match Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Recommended for You

European countries near Russia puzzled by US plans to cut defense funding
AP News

European countries near Russia puzzled by US plans to cut defense funding

News
Judge tosses lawsuit against Fox News. But Newsmax can try again
Los Angeles Times

Judge tosses lawsuit against Fox News. But Newsmax can try again

News
Trump seeking ways to take over 9/11 memorial in NYC
AP News

Trump seeking ways to take over 9/11 memorial in NYC

News
Congress is expected to allow Trump's takeover of DC police to expire
AP News

Congress is expected to allow Trump's takeover of DC police to expire

News
Paranormal expert who toured with Annabelle doll died of natural causes, coroner says
Los Angeles Times

Paranormal expert who toured with Annabelle doll died of natural causes, coroner says

News
FDA's green list cracks down on illegal imported drug ingredients
UPI

FDA's green list cracks down on illegal imported drug ingredients

News
'Life is Strange' to be adapted as Prime Video series
UPI

'Life is Strange' to be adapted as Prime Video series

News
Trump admin ditches Biden-era plan to make airlines pay compensation for flight disruptions
AP News

Trump admin ditches Biden-era plan to make airlines pay compensation for flight disruptions

News
Northwestern University president resigns amid funding fight with feds
UPI

Northwestern University president resigns amid funding fight with feds

News
Defiant RFK Jr. questions vaccine data, defends record under bipartisan Senate grilling
Los Angeles Times

Defiant RFK Jr. questions vaccine data, defends record under bipartisan Senate grilling

News
Questions over Kawhi Leonard payments put focus on NBA salary cap
Los Angeles Times

Questions over Kawhi Leonard payments put focus on NBA salary cap

News
Republican Gabriel Sterling, defender of 2020 Georgia election, runs for secretary of state
AP News

Republican Gabriel Sterling, defender of 2020 Georgia election, runs for secretary of state

News
Sky's Angel Reese suspended 1 game by WNBA for 8th technical foul, will miss game at Indiana
AP News

Sky's Angel Reese suspended 1 game by WNBA for 8th technical foul, will miss game at Indiana

News
Texas border agents uncover meth shipments valued at $50 million
UPI

Texas border agents uncover meth shipments valued at $50 million

News