MLS suspends Inter Miami star over spitting incident

• Major League Soccer has suspended Inter Miami star Luis Suarez for three matches after he was seen spitting on a Seattle Sounders security staffer after the Leagues Cup final.
• The league’s suspension on Monday, Sept. 8, follows disciplinary action announced Friday by the Leagues Cup tournament, which issued a six-match tournament ban to Suarez.
• MLS also revoked the credentials of a different Sounders staffer for the rest of the year, throughout the postseason.

Major League Soccer has suspended Inter Miami star Luis Suarez for three matches after he was seen spitting on a Seattle Sounders staffer after the Leagues Cup final.

Suarez will serve the suspension during Inter Miami’s next three matches: Sept. 13 at Charlotte FC, Sept. 16 vs. Seattle, and Sept. 20 vs. D.C. United. He is eligible to return when Inter Miami visits New York City FC on Sept. 24.

The league’s suspension on Monday, Sept. 8, follows disciplinary action announced Friday by the Leagues Cup tournament, which issued a six-match tournament ban to Suarez. Essentially, Suarez would miss the entire 2026 Leagues Cup if Inter Miami were to reach the final.

Suarez was seen spitting on Sounders security staffer Gene Ramirez after Seattle beat Inter Miami 3-0 to win the Leagues Cup tournament on Aug. 31.

Suarez, the Uruguayan legend known for his misconduct, issued an apology on social media last week.

“It was a moment of great tension and frustration, where as soon as the game ended, things happened that shouldn’t have happened. But that doesn’t justify the reaction I had. I was wrong and I sincerely regret it,” Suarez said on Instagram.

Lenhart will only be permitted in public seating areas during Sounders home matches. He’s not allowed on or near the pitch or locker rooms. His access will again be reviewed ahead of the 2026 MLS season.

Seattle was also fined for an undisclosed amount for misappropriation of credentials by the league.

Leagues Cup also suspended Lenhart from the Sounders’ next five Leagues Cup matches.

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets received a two-game Leagues Cup suspension for violent conduct after striking Seattle’s Obed Vargas, while defender Tomás Avilés was suspended for three games for his role in the postgame scene. However, both Inter Miami players did not receive further discipline from MLS.

Seattle is fourth in the MLS Western Conference with 44 points from 12 wins, seven losses and eight draws. Inter Miami ranks sixth in the East with 46 points from 13 wins, five losses and seven draws.

While most MLS clubs have played 29 matches, Inter Miami (25) and Seattle (27) have matches in hand to play that could elevate them in the standings by season’s end.

The final day of the 2025 MLS season is Oct. 18, while the MLS Cup playoffs begin with wild card matches on Oct. 22. The MLS Cup will be Dec. 6.