Classless Suarez and Inter Miami offer empty apologies | OneFootball

As Miami sets itself up to be MLS's first team of villains, statements were given, and thanks to the digital age, we don't have to worry if they are worth the paper they would have been printed on.

Suarez’s apology read: “First of all, I want to congratulate the Seattle Sounders for their victory in the Leagues Cup. But, most of all, I want to apologize for my behavior at the end of the game. It was a moment a great tension and frustration, right after the game ended, and things happened that should not have happened, but that does not justify my reaction. I made a mistake, and I sincerely regret it.

"That is not the image I want in front of my family, which suffers due to my errors, nor in front of my club, which also doesn’t deserve to see itself affected for something like this. I feel badly for what happened and I didn’t want let the opportunity go by without acknowledging it and asking forgiveness from everyone who felt bad for what I did. We know that that there is still a lot of our season ahead and we will work together to succeed and reach the goals that this club and all its fans deserve. A hug to all.”

This is not the first empty apology offered by Suarez. His bite victims, and the player that he berated with racial slurs, are still waiting for real apologies. Patrice Evra, still waiting for an apology, or perhaps not, has challenged Suarez to an MMA fight, which may or may not happen as Evra starts his new career as a fighter.

Suarez has pleaded with committees to see past his transgressions in the past, claiming that he wanted to be a better role model for his kids, and assured everyone that those actions were in the past. It is like the old adage, fool me 3 or 4 times, shame on everyone involved. These are hollow words from a talented yet vile person.

Apparently, that is the look Miami is going for. They are harnessing the Pistons "Bad Boy" image much to the likes of the Georgetown Hoyas, John McEnroe, the Miami Hurricanes or Athletico Madrid in the 2010s. Miami offered the following statement:

Inter Miami also issued the following statement regarding the post-game altercations: “Inter Miami condemns the altercations that took place following the conclusion of the Leagues Cup Final. 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. We thank our fans and community for their continued support.”

From a coach that didn't react to the altercations on the pitch, to an organization that just seems to want to avoid MLS suspensions, they are not serious about the horrific culture that is being supported in Miami. A serious organization would handle things differently.

In the 1990s, a University of Arizona basketball player by the name of Eugene Edgerson set a pick at midcourt. It was a legal play; he just stood there. An opposing player didn't see him, and ran full speed into him and was knocked out in the process. The officials didn't call a foul, but the coach for Arizona, Hall of Famer Lute Olson, took Edgerson out of the game and sat him for the rest of the game and for the following game. He owned the culture of the program.

When the league was asked to weigh in, they reported that coach Olsen had already handled the situation and his decision was a stiffer penalty than they would have doled out.

Miami is in position to get out ahead of this and hand out suspensions, but they won't. They could volunteer to sit out players who choked, punched, and/or spaa t on people after the match, but instead have decided to play defense and set themselves up for an appeal, which all but condones those actions.

Miami is already criticized by many for getting away with accosting officials, and this isn't their first post-game disgrace. The Leagues Cup committee will have the first opportunity to sanction these players, but several of them may not be playing next season, making their punishments mute. MLS can chime in and hand out suspensions because it makes the league look bad, which it does. However, they want to keep pleasing their moneymaker and GOAT, Messi.

Messi himself during the game told a Sounders player and fellow Argentinian that he will never play for the national team while he is around. If FIFA wants to step in, they can also dole out punishments. Considering Suarez's past transgressions and empty apologies, it would be within their power to end Suarez's career, which is overdue considering 3 different biting instances alone should have achieved that. As good as Suarez has been as a striker, he has been that bad of a person.

Will any of these governing bodies step up and defend the sport, or will they cave into the pressure of the popularity of Messi. Their ruling should be coming out before the next match for Miami, which happens to be against the Seattle Sounders.