Luis Suarez is back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after the 3-0 defeat of Inter Miami against the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday.
At the last whistle in the Lumenveld of Seattle, the 38-year-old striker ran from Uruguay to the 20-year-old Obed Vargas, so that the Sounders midfielder took place in a headlock. The collision escalated quickly in a full-scaling fight in which players and employees were involved from both sides.
While civil servants were climbing to order, Suarez cameras seemed to catch a coach in Seattle while they walked away from Vargas.
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano distanced himself from details. «Nobody likes these kinds of actions at the end of a competition, but if there is a response, there might be provocation,» he said.
Seattle -Coach Brian Schmetzer hit a quieter ticket and praised his players instead of reflecting on the Melee. «Unfortunately, that will take some attention from a great achievement of the Seattle Sounders,» he said. «I think we can consider that a compliment that the frustrations of Miami have led to some things happening on the field that should not happen on the field. I will close that because that should not be the story.»
The unsavory incident overshadowed a strong performance of Sounders against a Miami side led by Lionel Messi. However, Suarez will be confronted with renewed control. His reputation as one of the great villains of football stems from earlier controversies, including the biting Chiellini on the 2014 world cup, earlier corrosive incidents in club game and a suspension for the racist abuse of an opponent.
Published on September 1, 2025
