Luis Suárez has landed himself in trouble again. Major League Soccer decided to suspend the Uruguayan forward for Inter Miami’s next three matches after the ugly incident that followed the Leagues Cup final, where Lionel Messi’s side lost 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders. TV cameras caught the moment Suárez spit in the face of Gene Ramírez, a Seattle security guard, right after clashing with opposing players. That scene earned him yet another ban, adding to the six-game suspension already handed down by the Leagues Cup organizers. In total, it’s nine games on the sidelines in just a short stretch of time. The number alone hurts, but what stings even more is how it weighs on the image of a player who’s no stranger to controversy.
Inter Miami in a tough spot
The matches Suárez will miss are Charlotte FC away on September 13, Seattle Sounders in Miami on September 16, and DC United at home on September 20. For a team trying to cement itself as a serious force in MLS, losing one of its main attacking threats in three straight fixtures cuts deep into Mascherano’s plans. Inter Miami, which has drawn massive global attention thanks to Messi, Jordi Alba, and Busquets, now finds its reputation dragged down by an incident that had nothing to do with the actual soccer being played. The contrast couldn’t be clearer. Messi is seen as the face of discipline, leadership, and pure spectacle. Suárez, on the other hand, is once more tied to the same behavior that dogged his years in Europe.
Fans of Inter Miami expected goals, moments of brilliance, and decisive plays from Suárez. Instead, what they got was the memory of a scuffle broadcast live to millions around the world.
How much patience is left
This decision didn’t come from Concacaf, the body that runs the Leagues Cup, but directly from MLS itself. The suspension sends a firm message: the league wants to protect its credibility and won’t turn a blind eye to behavior that crosses the line. And Suárez wasn’t the only one punished. Steven Lenhart, a Seattle staff member, had his credentials revoked for the rest of the season, while the Sounders were fined for misusing them. Still, the focus remains firmly on Suárez. The question now is how long Inter Miami and its supporters will tolerate repeated flare-ups like this.
Nobody doubts the forward’s technical ability. Even at this stage of his career, he can still change games whenever he steps onto the pitch. But with every new ban, the sense grows that the club is dealing more with the baggage than the talent. For those who thought Suárez’s final years would be about a shining farewell, the outlook feels darker with each passing week.