Leagues Cup Imposes Strong Penalties on Suarez, Busquets, and Aviles Following Final Incident

The Leagues Cup Organizing Committee announced disciplinary actions on Friday after incidents that occurred following the final match on August 31 between Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami. The official statement revealed that four individuals faced suspensions and fines, with the bans to be enforced in upcoming tournaments.

Luis Suarez received the most severe penalty, a six-match suspension, for spitting on a Seattle staff member. Sergio Busquets was given a two-match ban for violent conduct, while defender Tomas Aviles received a three-match suspension. On the Seattle side, assistant coach Steven Lenhart was suspended for five matches.

All four individuals will also incur fines as part of the decision. These suspensions are limited to Leagues Cup matches, although Major League Soccer may impose further penalties during league play, following previous cases.

The disciplinary measures were introduced after Seattle’s 3-0 win to claim the trophy. Referees reported that during the incident, Suarez spit at a Seattle staff member, Busquets hit a Seattle player in the face, and Aviles exhibited violent behavior. Lenhart’s involvement was also noted. The committee highlighted that its rules specifically address post-match misconduct.