- Suarez gets a six-game suspension
- Lenart gets a five-game ban
- Suspension applies only to Leagues Cup
Five days after a post-match brawl between the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami, the Leagues Cup disciplinary committee on Friday announced a series of multi-game suspensions.
Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez received the stiffest penalty – a six-game suspension after spitting at a Sounders staff member. Miami’s Sergio Busquets got two games due to violent conduct and Tomas Aviles three games, also for violent conduct. Seattle assistant coach Steven Lenhart received a five-game ban for violent conduct.
These suspensions only apply to the Leagues Cup competition. Tom Bogert reported that MLS could hand out its own suspensions.
According to the Leagues Cup’s statement, all parties will receive undisclosed fines, as well.
Miami and Seattle resume MLS play on Sept. 13. Both Suarez and Busquets’ contracts expire at the end of this MLS campaign, and there has been speculation they could retire after the season.
Suarez’s latest ban continues a career-wide trend of controversial incidents, including a 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic in the Premier League in 2013, a nine-match international suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, and an eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.
Miami and Seattle will return to action in eight days following the international break.
