September 9 – Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez is never too far from controversy and now has been slapped with a six-game suspension after spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member in the wake of a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the Leagues Cup final two weeks ago.
But that suspension only applied to future editions of the tournament, so Major League Soccer (MLS) has now acted as well, issuing the Uruguay star with an additional three-match ban.
It was a night that ended in disgrace for a few of Miami’s star names with Sergio Busquets and Tomás Avilés involved in a brawl at the final whistle. Suárez had to be restrained by teammates and coaches before launching his spit straight at a member of the opposing staff.
The trio, along with Steven Lenhart of Seattle, all received fines from the Leagues Cup Organising Committee.
For those who’ve followed his spectacular yet flawed career, the sight of Suárez losing his marbles is nothing new. We all remember the bans for biting Giorgio Chiellini, Branislav Ivanović, and Otman Bakkal. Another for racially abusing Patrice Evra. Add in his notorious World Cup handball against Ghana and you have a portrait of a player who for all his footballing genius, dances on the edge of chaos.
Suárez has since tried to pour water on the flames, issuing a public apology on social media. “It was a moment of much tension and frustration, where just after the game ended things happened that shouldn’t have happened, but that doesn’t justify my reaction,” he admitted. “I made a mistake and sincerely apologise. It’s not the image I want to give in front of my family, that suffers because of my mistakes, in front of my club, that also doesn’t deserve seeing themselves affected by something like this.”
The MLS disciplinary committee later handed the Uruguayan, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and additional three-game ban. Given that he is 38, he is unlikely to be offered another deal with Miami. How will he be remembered after this latest addition to his rap sheet?