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Mascherano Announces Verdict After Luis Suarez Appealed MLS Suspension

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Nov 7, 2025 2:02 PM ET

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano described the decision to suspend star striker Luis Suarez for Saturday’s decisive playoff match against Nashville SC as “very strange.”

Suarez attempted to personally appeal the ban, but was unsuccessful. Mascherano stated his disagreement with the league’s ruling.

“In my personal opinion, it seemed very strange, very strange because it's a play that was reviewed by VAR at the time in real time, and it didn't suggest any sanction from either the referee or the VAR official,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday.

"But well, the MLS rules are this way. We accept it, as the club stated. We don't agree, but we accept and respect the decision. We just hope the regulations are applied to everything in this same way.”

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Suarez’s Suspension Appeal Was Rejected Within Hours by MLS

Luis Suarez of Inter Miami CF during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly SC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Mascherano revealed that Suarez’s appeal was denied within hours.

“I got a call, I think it was Monday night,” Mascherano said. “The club called to tell me they had received this sanction and that they would determine the specific penalty in the following days. I think it was Tuesday or Wednesday; it was pretty quick, things really do move fast here in the United States.

"Yes, there was an appeal. The player appealed because, in this case, we were told that the club couldn't appeal. So, obviously, the player appealed using the club's resources, and nothing came of it. The appeal was denied within a couple of hours. (Suarez) is surprised, very surprised. Very surprised because these things happen in a game. If we were to dwell endlessly on these situations, there are quite a few, but it is what it is."

On Wednesday, the MLS Disciplinary Committee banned Suarez for one match and fined the Uruguayan an undisclosed amount for an incident that occurred in Game 2 of Inter Miami’s MLS Cup playoff series against Nashville.

Suarez kicked out at Nashville defender Andy Najar in an off-ball incident in the 71st minute during Inter Miami’s Nov. 1 match. No foul was called on the play.

Can confirm @tombogert's report. Luis Suárez will miss Game 3 of Inter Miami's playoff series against Nashville SC for this off-the-ball kick on Andy Nájar. No foul was called in the game, MLS DisCo has deemed it rises to the level of violent conduct.pic.twitter.com/epaNBaMjtz
— Ben Wright (@benwright) November 5, 2025

The MLS Disciplinary Committee made the following statement on Wednesday:

“The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Inter Miami CF forward Luis Suárez for one match and fined Suarez an undisclosed amount under Disciplinary Committee Parameter 3 for violent conduct in the 71st minute of Inter Miami’s match against Nashville SC on Nov. 1. Suarez will serve his one-match suspension on Nov. 8 during Miami’s match against Nashville.”

Inter Miami lost the match 2-1. Lionel Messi scored a late goal in the 90th minute.

Suarez has scored 10 goals in 28 MLS regular season matches in 2025. The 38-year-old has notched 42 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions since joining Inter Miami in Dec. 2023.

Saturday’s match will take place at Chase Stadium at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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