Suarez handed six-match ban for spitting incident in Leagues Cup final

Luis Suarez has been banned for six matches after spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member during Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup final defeat last week.

Miami missed out on silverware as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by the hosts at Lumen Field.

However, the showpiece was marred by post-match incidents involving Suarez, who grabbed Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas around the neck, before spitting in the face of director of security, Gene Ramirez.

The 38-year-old has subsequently been handed a six-match suspension, which will only apply to the Leagues Cup and effectively rule him out for the entirety of next year’s competition, while MLS “reserves the right” to impose further punishment.

THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS ARE LEAGUES CUP CHAMPIONS!@SoundersFC are the new kings of North America — Campeones of #LeaguesCup2025pic.twitter.com/PvIiuebD3Z

— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) September 1, 2025

Suarez’s team-mates Sergio Busquets (two games) and Tomas Aviles (three games) have also received bans, along with Seattle coaching staff member Steven Lenhart (five games).

The Uruguayan apologised for “a moment of great tension and frustration” in a statement on his Instagram account earlier this week, acknowledging: “I was wrong and I sincerely regret it”.