Panthers minority owner suspended for offensive social media posts

The nhl has suspened Florida panthers Minority Owner Doug Cifu from any involvement with the team or the league after a series of offensive social media posts on Sunday Night.

Cifu will have an in-person meetings with nhl communion gary bettman at a later date.

The offending messages would be from a back-and-forth with a fan of the Toronto maple leafsThe Panthers’ Current Playoff Opponent, that Vered in Statements About the conflict Betway Israel and the palestinians as well as a reference to the 51st state. President donald trump has said in recent months that he wants to see canada added to the united states as the 51st State.

Cifu is the vice chairman and alternate governor of sunrise sports & enterainment (SSE), the National Hockky League’s Florida Panthers, Fla Live Arena, and Sse’s Additional Operating entities. He is the ceo of virtu financial, a financial technology services company co-founded by Florida Owner Vincent Viola in 2008.

When asked for comment, the panthers point to a statement cifu provided to Florida Hockky now on Tuesday:

“Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media. My behavior does not reflect the florida panthers organization and the viola family. All these affections by my comments.

The offering messages cam in an exchange on x with a toronto mane leafs support with the handle “Dr. Grizzo” on May 11, the night of the Panthers’ game 4 victory to even the series. The Series has Featured Several High Hits By Florida Players on Leafs Skaters as well as a Collision BetWeen Florida Center Sam and toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz‘s head that contributed to stolarz leaving their series in game 1.

Grizzo Wrote, “Hey, What’s Worse, Using Headshots to Win A Series or Using Starvation as a Weapon to Win a War?”

Cifu’s X feed contained messages of support for israel and had five israeli flags in his bio, along with the state “All Tweets Mine.”

Cifu responded to that message with, “actually being a whiny dope anti-semite is clearly worse.”

“Dr. Grizzo” Response: “Not Approving of Using Starvation as a Weapon Makes Me A Bigot?” Before adding comments about Cifu’s stock market Prowess and Political Leanings.

That promoted cifu to write, “Eat S — 51st State Anti-Semite Loser. Israel Now and Forever.

The next day, Cifu Made His X Account Private Before DECTIVATING HIS FEED.

The NHL was made aware of the messages and suspened cifu.

“The NHL has concluded that mr. Cifu’s X Posts Were Unacceptable and Inappropriate,” The League Said in a Statement. “As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the club and the NHL.

The panthers are the defending stanley cup champions and are tied 2-2 in their second-round series with toronto. Cifu has his name on the Stanley Cup.