A series of suspensions have been implemented for players from Inter Miami following a chaotic end to their match in the Leagues Cup final. Luis Suarez was penalized for spitting on a staff member of the Seattle Sounders, leading to his six-match suspension. Additional penalties were handed down to teammates Sergio Busquets, Tomas Aviles, and Sounders staff member Steven Lenhart. The complete list of suspensions is as follows:
- Luis Suarez: Six matches for spitting at a Sounders staff member.
- Sergio Busquets: Two matches for violent conduct.
- Tomas Aviles: Three matches for violent conduct.
- Steven Lenhart: Five matches for violent conduct.
All involved will incur fines and are barred from participating in Leagues Cup games until their suspension period ends. Notably, these suspensions do not affect their eligibility for Major League Soccer matches. The league will decide if further actions are warranted following these suspensions.
In a related context, there is a precedent for additional penalties. For instance, Clint Dempsey received a six-match suspension in a similar situation during the U.S. Open Cup in 2015, alongside a subsequent league suspension.
