FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi won't be alongside longtime teammate Luis Suarez in a match that could end Inter Miami's season on Saturday.
Suarez is suspended for Saturday's playoff-clinching game against Nashville, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday, for his actions in Game 2 of the series, including kicking Nashville's Andy Nahar last weekend.
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Suarez was also fined for an undisclosed amount, MLS said. Inter Miami must win Game 3 of their series against Nashville on Saturday or the season will end.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee said Suarez's “aggressive behavior” in the 71st minute of the match on November 1 merited a suspension, although no fouls were called against him in the game. Under MLS rules, the committee can unanimously agree to a disqualification even if no infractions were recorded in real time.
Suarez extended his right foot and kicked Najar, but neither came close to the ball.
MLS suspended Suarez earlier this season for three league matches after he was caught spitting at someone during a melee following Inter Miami's loss to the Seattle Sounders in the League Cup final on August 31. The Leagues Cup also suspended Suarez for six future matches in their competition; MLS took action, although the actions that marred the ending of that game did not occur in a league match.
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Suarez was suspended three more times during his career for biting an opponent.
Additionally, MLS said Wednesday that Inter Miami defender Ian Frey was fined for “violating the league's modeling/embellishment policy” during a match in Nashville over the weekend. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.
Inter Miami won the first game of the series and then lost the second game in Nashville. Inter Miami failed to make it out of the first round last season, losing game three at home to Atlanta.
Messi played with Suarez, whose status for 2026 onwards is undetermined, as well as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba for many years at Barcelona. Suarez followed Busquets and Alba to Inter Miami after Messi stunned many in the football world by deciding to sign for Inter Miami in mid-2023.
Messi has extended his contract until 2028. Busquets and Alba will retire when Inter Miami's season ends.
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