The Seattle Sounders lifted the 2025 Leagues Cup in emphatic fashion, defeating Inter Miami 3-0 in a pulsating final in front of a record Lumen Field crowd.
However, scenes at the full-time whistle overshadowed the entertaining match, as the two sides engaged in fisticuffs at midfield.
Frustrated Inter Miami players were set off by the celebrations of the Sounders at the end of the match, and things kicked off from there. Multiple players and staff members from both sides were seen in the middle of the fracas, and there will likely be suspensions dished out in the aftermath.
The most notable incident caught on camera involved Luis Suarez, who may be in significant trouble in the coming days. The Sporting News breaks down the fight and who was most significantly involved.
MORE: A full recap of the 2025 Leagues Cup final, won by the Seattle Sounders
Will Luis Suarez be suspended for spitting on Seattle Sounders coach?
After the final whistle of the 2025 Leagues Cup final, a fight broke out at the center of the pitch. Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez was at the heart of it, and he will likely find himself in for his actions.
Suarez, now 38 years old, was seen yelling at a member of the Seattle Sounders staff. Towards the end of the confrontation, with Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari trying to separate Suarez, the Uruguayan was clearly seen spitting at the face of the Sounders staffer.
¡Lamentable! Luis Suárez le escupe a un elemento del cuerpo técnico de Seattle Sounders #IntensaRivalidad pic.twitter.com/slrAAOCc4g
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 1, 2025
In the likely event that Luis Suarez is retroactively given a red card, he would be suspended for next year’s Leagues Cup.
“If a player or technical staff is serving a suspension and their club is eliminated from the Tournament prior to fulfilling the suspension, then the suspension will be fulfilled in the next edition of the tournament,” the Leagues Cup regulations read.
It’s unclear if the Major League Soccer disciplinary committee has the ability to apply additional sanctions for players for their actions in other competitions. However, there is precedent for disciplinary action moving in the other direction, as Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake was suspended a number of matches in 2024 for violating the MLS anti-harassment policy. Those matches included two MLS matches, the MLS All-Star game, and the club’s first
Fight at end of Leagues Cup final mars 2025 title match
Leagues Cup final referee Juan Calderon Perez of Costa Rica surprisingly blew the full-time whistle at the end of regulation, deciding not to add any additional time despite a penalty, multiple VAR checks, and other stoppages.
As soon as the whistle blew, a brawl broke out at midfield between the two sides.
Temperatures boiled over and punches were thrown after the final whistle in the Leagues Cup Final between Seattle and Inter Miami 😳
🎥: @MLS pic.twitter.com/vI3Y3qKpEm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 1, 2025
It appeared that defeated Inter Miami players were the aggressors during the brawl. It appears to kick off as Luis Suarez did not take kindly to the full-time celebrations of young Mexican international Obed Vargas, and loudly protests to Yeimar Gomez. Sergio Busquets appears to come in and give Vargas a light but discernible punch to the chin, which ignites Sounders youngster Cody Baker who gets in the face of Suarez.
❌😳 Luis Suarez grabbed Obed Vargas from the neck after the final whistle in the Leagues Cup.
Then Sergio Busquets appeared to PUNCH the 20-year-old Mexican in the face. 🇺🇾🇪🇸
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) September 1, 2025
From there, individuals on both sides could be seen in the melee. Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcon followed Suarez’s lead and Baker in a choke hold, seeing Gomez gave chase to free his teammate. An Inter Miami substitute in a red bib threw punches at Jackson Ragen before being tackled away from the melee.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano sidestepped questions about the brawl after the game, saying, “I have nothing to say. I don’t know what happened. I won’t make any comments because I don’t know what happened.”
