Gene Ramírez, who serves as security director for Seattle Sounders, has spoken publicly for the first time about "being spat on" by Luis Suárez following Sunday's Leagues Cup final.
The Uruguayan forward appeared to target Mr Ramírez during a heated confrontation after Seattle's commanding 3-0 victory at Lumen Field.
"I was expecting the bite," Ramírez quipped, making light of the unsavoury incident while referencing Suárez's infamous assault on Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The security chief's humorous response came after footage of the alleged spitting incident spread rapidly across social media on Sunday evening.
Gene Ramírez has spoken publicly for the first time about being spat upon by Luis Suárez after Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders were involved in a heated encounter
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The ugly scenes erupted immediately after the final whistle when Suárez forcefully wrapped his arm around the throat of Obed Vargas, Seattle's 20-year-old midfielder.
Team-mate Sergio Busquets then escalated matters by striking the Mexican international on the chin during the ensuing scuffle.
The former Liverpool striker could be clearly seen spitting on Gene Ramírez after the game, and is facing a heavy suspension
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As players and staff from both sides converged on the fracas, Suárez turned his attention to Ramírez.
Television cameras captured the 38-year-old berating the security director before spitting in his direction, prompting intervention from Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and a Seattle staff member who pulled the striker away from the confrontation.
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Luis Suárez appeared to spit on a Seattle staff member after the final whistle in the Leagues Cup Final 👀
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 1, 2025
🎥: @MLS pic.twitter.com/gCMLdbwDlC
Suárez has a long history of misconduct, most famously his gnaw on Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup. But it wasn't his only biting controversy, with the Uruguayan also taking a chunk out of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic while playing for Liverpool in the Premier League.
The former Barcelona forward was also the centre of a major racism row with Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra.
Seattle's comprehensive victory came through strikes from Osaze De Rosario in the opening period, followed by Alex Roldán and Paul Rothrock after the interval.
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The defeat proved particularly frustrating for Miami, who squandered golden opportunities whilst trailing by a single goal.
Lionel Messi inexplicably fired over from close range after combining with Suárez in Miami's most promising move, whilst Tadeo Allende also failed to convert a clear equalising chance.
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Inter Miami had become frustrated during the game after missing multiple opportunites
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Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer expressed disappointment that the post-match incidents overshadowed his team's stellar display.
"Their players were frustrated and that led to some things happening on the field that shouldn't happen on the field," he stated.
Seattle Sounders boss Brian Schmetzer was delighted with his team's performance in the final but worried it was overshadowed by the nasty scenes after the game
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Miami coach Javier Mascherano claimed ignorance of the altercation, saying: "I have nothing to say because I was far away and didn't see what happened."
The incident could result in significant disciplinary action, as MLS has established clear precedents for punishing spitting offences.
Last season, Héctor Herrera received a three-match suspension after spitting towards a referee - one match for his red card following VAR review and two additional games from league officials.
In 2023, Real Salt Lake's Jasper Löffelsend was banned for two matches after spitting at an opposing player.
Given these precedents, Suárez faces the prospect of missing multiple matches during the crucial final stretch of the MLS regular season.
Despite Sunday's heavy loss, Miami secured qualification for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup as runners-up, whilst Seattle earned direct entry to the round of 16 as champions.