Mascherano Regrets Suarez's Play Ban On Incident Meludah

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has lost many core players, including Luis Suarez who is still serving his sentence (Instagram/@intermimamicf).

JAKARTA - Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano admitted his team would lose an important player after Luis Suarez received a three-game suspension from Major League Soccer (MLS) for spat on a Seattle Sounders staff member after the League Cup final (Leagues Cup) on August 31, 2025.

Suarez initially received a six-match ban to watch in the next edition of the tournament before MLS added additional sanctions in the form of three matches.

Both Suarez and Inter Miami have released an apology for the behavior following the final against Sounders.

"Regarding the suspension, of course, we accept the decision made by MLS. Obviously, the club has publicly approved the decision."

"Luis has also publicly expressed his approval with the team. We discussed what we had to discuss privately."

"I think we ended up getting to a common ground on that issue although obviously none of us liked how the game against Seattle ended and everything that happened next," Mascherano said.

Suarez did not play for Inter Miami in the match against Charlotte FC, Seattle, and DC United.

"Well, obviously we lost a starting player, a player who has been an important player throughout the season. It opens up opportunities for us to consider other things, trying to replace them in the best possible way."

"When we lost an important player in the team, what we tried to do was to get the team to replace it as a whole and not replace it individually for Luis."

"The problem is, there are no players from each other. So, we've started preparing for the game this week with a mindset facing the next game."

"We try to do everything in the best way to get the three points," said Mascherano.

In addition to Suarez's absence, Inter Miami also played without Fafa Picault, David Ruiz, Allen Obando, and Baltasar Rodriguez due to injury.

"I think if there's one thing I've adapted all season, those are these situations, things that can happen," Mascherano said.

However, Lionel Messi remains playing full when he travels to Charlotte's headquarters. Mascherano confirmed that Messi trained all week with the club after returning early from international duty with Argentina, opting to rejoin the team instead of going to Ecuador for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match of La Albiceleste's last Conmebol Zone.

However, his presence turned out to be unable to save Inter Miami. In the September 14, 2025 match, Inter Miami had to go home empty-handed after being beaten by Charlotte 0-3.

Inter Miami is now in eighth position in the MLS Eastern Region standings with 46 points in 26 matches after the match against Charlotte.