FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi won’t have longtime teammate Luis Suárez alongside him for a match that could end Inter Miami CF’s season.
Suárez has been suspended for Saturday’s deciding third game against Nashville SC, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday, for his actions in Game 2 of the best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS playoffs — specifically, for kicking Nashville’s Andy Nájar — this past weekend.
Suárez was also fined an undisclosed amount, MLS said. Miami, which won 3-1 at home on Oct. 24 and lost 2-1 at Nashville last Saturday, must win this weekend to extend its season into the conference semifinals.
The league’s disciplinary committee said the 38-year-old striker’s “violent conduct” in the 71st minute of Game 2 merited the suspension, even though no foul was called against him on the play. By MLS rules, the committee can unanimously agree to issue a suspension even if no foul was called in real time.
Suárez reached out with his right leg and struck Nájar when neither player was anywhere near the ball.
In the wake of Wednesday’s announcement of the penalty, Miami said it “accepts and respects the decision made by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.”
“At the same time, the club wishes to express its concern about the precedent set by re-refereeing a play that had already been judged by the match officials and VAR, and its confidence that the same standard will be applied in the future to all on-field situations, in any match and involving any team,” Miami’s statement read.
MLS suspended Suárez earlier this season for three league matches after he was caught spitting at someone during a melee after Miami’s loss to the Seattle Sounders, a fellow MLS team, in the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 31. The Leagues Cup also suspended Suárez for six future matches in its tournament, and MLS took action even though the acts that marred the finish of that game were not in a league match.
Suárez has served suspensions on three other occasions during his career for biting opponents.
Additionally, MLS said Wednesday that Miami defender Ian Fray has been fined for “violating the league’s policy regarding simulation/embellishment” during the Nashville match last weekend. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.
Miami failed to get out of the first round last season, dropping a deciding Game 3 at home to Atlanta United FC.
Messi played with Suárez — whose status with Miami for 2026 and beyond isn’t certain — as well as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets for years with Barcelona in Spain’s top-level La Liga. Suárez followed Alba and Busquets to Miami after Messi stunned many in the soccer world by choosing to sign with the MLS club midway through the 2023 season.
Messi has extended his contract through 2028. Alba and Busquets are retiring whenever Miami’s season ends.