Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez has issued a public apology after he was caught spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member in the aftermath of Sunday’s heated Leagues Cup final.

The 38-year-old Uruguayan acknowledged his misconduct on Instagram on Thursday, calling it a “moment of great tension and frustration.”

"It was a moment of great tension and frustration, where right after the match things happened that shouldn`t have happened, but that doesn`t justify the reaction I had," Suarez wrote.

"I was wrong and I sincerely regret it."

The apology comes after Seattle’s 3-0 victory over the Messi-led Inter Miami side at Lumen Field — a shock result in the tournament’s final. Following the final whistle, Suarez charged toward Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas, putting the 20-year-old in a headlock and triggering a melee involving players and staff from both teams.

As officials worked to defuse the situation, cameras later captured Suarez appearing to spit at a Seattle security staff member while walking away.

"I feel bad about what happened, and I didn`t want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge it and apologize to everyone who felt hurt by what I did," Suarez added in his statement.

Inter Miami, MLS respond

Inter Miami released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), strongly condemning the incident.

“These actions do not reflect the values of our sport, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship both on and off the pitch.
We are working closely with Leagues Cup and MLS officials to ensure the situation is addressed appropriately.”

League officials have not yet confirmed what disciplinary action Suarez may face, but speculation is mounting given his well-documented history of controversial behavior.

A career marked by controversy

Suarez’s on-field discipline has long drawn scrutiny. He was banned for four months during the 2014 FIFA World Cup for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini — one of three biting incidents in his career. In 2011, he was handed an eight-match ban in England for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Earlier, in the 2010 World Cup, he sparked global outrage with a deliberate handball that denied Ghana a potential winner in the quarter-finals — a move that many still view as unsportsmanlike.

Focus turns to MLS Cup playoff push

Despite the controversy, Suarez expressed his commitment to Inter Miami`s ongoing season.

"We know there`s still a lot of the season ahead, and we`re going to work together to achieve the successes that this club and all of its fans deserve," he wrote.

With the club aiming to secure a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs, officials and fans alike will now wait to see how Suarez’s latest misconduct will be handled — and whether it will impact his availability for the crucial final stretch of the season.