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Legendary Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez sometimes struggled to stay on the pitch while at Liverpool. This was not because the talismanic forward had lingering injuries; instead, the mercurial talent often received bans for his bizarre and brazen outbursts at opposing players and coaches.
Suarez was at it again last week. The Inter Miami forward spat on a Seattle staffer after his side's 3-0 loss in the Leagues Cup Final, creating an ensuing fracas that saw both teams pour onto the field.
Suarez posted a lengthy apology to his Instagram on Thursday, but it wasn't enough to save a lengthy suspension: the 38-year-old earned a six-game ban.
He wasn't the only one receiving a penalty: Seattle coach Steven Lenhart (five games) and Miami midfielders Tomas Aviles (three) and Sergio Busquets (two games) were also booked.
What happened? After the final whistle, Suarez grabbed Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas, who was taunting the Uruguayan. Busquets emerged after punching Vargas on the chin. Suarez spat on a Sounders coach in the area before he was held back by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Important to note: the penalties are only in effect for the Leagues Cup, a joint US-Mexican tournament featuring just a handful of games a year that won't resurface until next June.
Givemesport's Tom Bogart reports that Suarez, who has six goals and 10 assists in 22 games for playoff-chasing Inter Miami, may receive further punishment from the MLS. Miami has nine regular-season games left before the postseason begins.
Suarez posted a lengthy apology to his social media account on Thursday. "It was a moment of much tension and frustration, where just after the game ended things happened that shouldn't have happened but that doesn't justify my reaction," the 38-year-old starter.
"I made a mistake and sincerely apologize," he continued. "It's not the image I want to give in front of my family, that suffers because of my mistakes, in front of my club, that also doesn't deserve seeing themselves affected by something like this."
"I feel bad for what happened, and I didn't want to let pass the opportunity to recognize and apologize to everything that felt bad for what I did. We know there is still a lot of season left ahead and we will work together to try and get the triumphs that this club and its fans deserve. A hug to all."
In 110 games for Liverpool from 2011 to 2014, Suarez netted 69 times. He set a then Premier League record in the 2013/14 campaign by scoring a stunning 31 times in just 34 games (and zero penalties).
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