The 2025 Leagues Cup ended with a convincing 3-0 victory for the Seattle Sounders over Inter Miami, but what happened after the final whistle has generated more headlines than the match itself. A brawl at midfield overshadowed the trophy celebration and put Luis Suárez in the spotlight after the night’s most controversial incident.

The incident that sparked the controversy

Following Seattle’s win at Lumen Field, emotions ran high among Inter Miami players, visibly frustrated by the defeat. In the midst of the scuffle, cameras caught Luis Suárez arguing with rival staff members and, at a critical moment, spitting in the face of Gene Ramírez, a member of the Sounders’ security staff.

The gesture was only stopped by the intervention of goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, who tried to calm his teammate. However, the act was already recorded, and the Uruguayan could now be facing a harsh disciplinary sanction.

What sanction could Luis Suárez receive?

According to the Leagues Cup regulations, if Suárez is deemed to have committed serious unsporting conduct, he could be handed a retroactive red card and consequently miss the next edition of the tournament.
The disciplinary article states: “If a player or staff member is serving a suspension and their club is eliminated from the tournament before completing it, the suspension will be carried over to the following edition of the Leagues Cup.”

It remains unclear whether MLS could extend the sanction to league matches, as happened in 2024 with Cristian Arango (Real Salt Lake), who was suspended from MLS games, the All-Star Game, and the Leagues Cup after violating the league’s anti-harassment policy.

A final tarnished by the brawl

Costa Rican referee Juan Calderón Pérez raised eyebrows by not adding stoppage time in the final, which further fueled tensions. In that context, provocations by youngster Obed Vargas during the celebrations triggered Suárez’s first reaction. The situation quickly escalated with the involvement of Sergio Busquets, who lightly struck the Mexican, and Maxi Falcón, who violently grabbed young Cody Baker.

The brawl included shoving, holds, and even substitutes throwing punches, ensuring that the Disciplinary Committee will review not only Suárez’s actions but also those of other Inter Miami players. Head coach Javier Mascherano chose not to comment on the incident.