MLS suspends Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez three games for sparking brawl vs Seattle Sounders, with discipline coming on top of six-match Leagues Cup ban

Major League Soccer suspended Luis Suarez three games for his role in an incident that followed the Leagues Cup final, in which the Seattle Sounders beat Inter Miami 3-0. He had previously been banned for six Leagues Cup matches.

The league issued a statement Monday specifying that the Miami forward will miss three matches: Sept. 13 at Charlotte FC, Sept. 16 vs. Seattle and Sept. 20 vs. D.C. United. MLS also announced that Sounders' coach Steven Lenhart's credentials have been revoked for the remainder of the 2025 season and playoffs.

Lenhart's access will be limited to public seating areas and he cannot be on or near field of play, or have access to tunnels or locker rooms, during that period. He will be allowed to reapply for next season. The Sounders were also disciplined for misappropriation of credentials.

Suarez already received a six-game ban for next year's Leagues Cup, with teammates Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles getting shorter suspensions, two and three games, respectively. Neither Busquets nor Aviles received any MLS-specific punishment. Lenhart got a five-game Leagues Cup ban.

Suarez instigated the brawl at the Leagues Cup final, and also spat at Sounders staffer.

After the brawl, Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano condemned the actions of his players involved, but also insinuated the actions were provoked. 

"None of us likes to see this kind of behavior," Mascherano said. "When there’s a reaction, it usually means there was some provocation."

Inter Miami return to action this weekend after a two-week due to the international window. They travel to Charlotte on Sept. 13, before hosting Seattle in a highly anticipated rematch, this time in Miami, on Sept. 16.