Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets suspended for roles in Inter Miami Leagues Cup melee

Inter Miami stars Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets have been handed suspensions for their parts in a postgame melee following the Seattle Sounders’ 3-0 win over Miami in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final.

Suárez was handed down a six-game Leagues Cup ban after spitting at a Seattle Sounders coaching staff member after the game. Cameras caught the Uruguayan forward stepping on the foot of Sounders head of security Gene Ramirez and then spitting in his face.

The six-game suspension will keep Suárez completely out of the next edition of the Leagues Cup.

Busquets threw and landed a punch on Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas after the final whistle. The Spanish midfielder received a two-game ban for violent conduct.

The tournament suspensions for Suárez and Busquets may land kindly, as both are out of contract at the end of the season and may not return to Inter Miami. Neither has announced their intentions for next season.

Inter Miami center back Tomás Avilés was handed a three-match Leagues Cup suspension for his role in the brawl. He threw several punches during the fight.

Seattle Sounders coaching staff member Steven Lenhart, the former San Jose Earthquakes “Bash Brother” who joined the staff to work with players on the mental side of the game, was also given a five-game suspension for violent conduct for his role in the fight.

All four players suspended will also receive fines “as a result of their conduct,” and all suspensions must be served in the next edition of the Leagues Cup until fully completed.

MLS reserves the right to impose further disciplinary action on the players and coaching staff involved. The league is still going through its own disciplinary process with these players. Typically, players have an opportunity to appeal any suspension through the MLS Players Association.

(Top photo: Lindsey Wasson / Lindsey Wasson)