A gesture that revives his history

The 2025 Leagues Cup final ended with a dark chapter for Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan striker spat at a Seattle Sounders staff member after Inter Miami’s defeat, an act caught on camera that generated immediate outrage. It’s not the first time the “Pistolero” has been at the center of controversy on the pitch, and now the big question is what sanction the MLS will impose.

The Héctor Herrera precedent

The closest case was Héctor Herrera in November 2024. Back then, the Mexican was sanctioned in the MLS after spitting near a referee while playing for the Houston Dynamo: an immediate red card, a three-match suspension, and a financial fine that was never disclosed. The consequences went even further, as he eventually left the club and returned to Mexican football with Toluca.

That case raises the question: if Herrera was punished so severely, what will happen with Suárez, one of the league’s top stars and a teammate of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami?

Will Suárez be judged by the same standards?

The controversy lies in whether the MLS will apply the same strict standards as in Herrera’s case or make an exception for a player who generates global attention and spectacle. Here, a key factor comes into play: Suárez’s close friendship with Messi and his role within the Argentine star’s team. Many believe this could work in his favor and lead to a lighter punishment, something that would be unfair compared to what Herrera endured.

The debate is on: should the league impose exemplary punishment to set a precedent, or will commercial interests and star power prevail? What’s certain is that Luis Suárez’s immediate future in the MLS hangs on a disciplinary decision that could define the final chapter of his professional career.