Luis Suárez spits on Seattle staffer after postgame brawl following Leagues Cup final
Video shows Miami forward grabbing Seattle midfielder, sparking a benches-clearing altercation that preceded the spit; no immediate discipline announced.
Luis Suárez was captured on video spitting in the face of a Seattle Sounders staff member after instigating a benches-clearing brawl at the conclusion of the Leagues Cup final, footage and reports show.
Seattle defeated Inter Miami 3-0 at Lumen Field on Sunday night to claim its first Leagues Cup trophy. As players celebrated on the field, footage shows Suárez grabbing Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas and putting him in a headlock, an action that prompted players and staff from both sides to rush toward the scene and escalate into a nearly three-minute melee.
Video captured the moments after the initial contact, when Suárez remained visibly agitated as stadium staff and players worked to separate the teams and prepare the field for the trophy presentation. Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari is seen attempting to intervene between Suárez and the Sounders staffer. At one point during the confrontation, camera angles show Suárez leaning in and spitting at the staff member's face.
Benches had cleared as Seattle defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade and others moved through the scrum attempting to break up the fight. The scenes delayed postgame formalities as officials and personnel restored order and a stage was brought onto the field for the trophy ceremony.
The altercation drew immediate attention on social media, where multiple clips circulated showing different angles of the confrontation. Press and team representatives had not announced any disciplinary measures or statements from either club or Leagues Cup organizers in the immediate aftermath.
Inter Miami, which fields a high-profile roster, and the Sounders did not provide official comments on the incident on the field following the match. Seattle players and staff proceeded with the trophy presentation after order was restored.
The Leagues Cup final marked a major achievement for Seattle, while the postgame scenes will likely draw scrutiny from competition officials and the broader soccer community. As of publication, organizers had not released a formal statement detailing any review process or potential sanctions related to the confrontation.
Video evidence and eyewitness accounts from the stadium form the basis of reporting on the incident. Additional information, including any disciplinary outcomes or official comments from Inter Miami, the Sounders, or tournament organizers, may be released as reviews proceed.