Suárez suspended six Leagues Cup matches for spitting after final

Luis Suárez has been suspended for six Leagues Cup matches for spitting at a member of Seattle Sounders staff after Inter Miami’s 3-0 defeat in the tournament final at Lumen Field, tournament disciplinary officials said Friday. The ban applies to future Leagues Cup matches and effectively rules the 38-year-old striker out of next year’s edition, though Major League Soccer may still impose separate punishment.

Disciplinary officials also issued suspensions to three others involved in the postgame melee. Seattle coaching staff member Steven Lenhart received a five-match ban, while Inter Miami defenders Tomás Avilés and Sergio Busquets were handed three- and two-match bans respectively. All four were fined, the committee said. The Leagues Cup is a competition separate from MLS, so the bans will not directly affect regular-season play, but league officials are reviewing the incident and could take additional action.

Video footage and multiple reports show Suárez confronting Seattle players and staff after the final whistle. Footage circulated widely on social media and broadcast replays show Suárez grabbing 20-year-old Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas around the neck before appearing...