Latest news with #DougCifu
Japan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
NHL suspends Panthers co-owner over social media posts
Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu has been suspended after making "inappropriate" remarks during a social media spat with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, the National Hockey League said on Tuesday. The NHL said in a statement Cifu had been indefinitely suspended following a barbed exchange on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday which touched on the war in Gaza and U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. "The NHL has concluded that Mr Cifu's X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate. As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL," the league said in a statement Tuesday. "An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the Commissioner at a date to be determined." In a statement released to U.S. media outlets, Cifu apologized for his remarks and vowed to work with the league over the controversy. "Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media," Cifu was quoted as saying. "My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. "I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions," he added. Cifu had become embroiled in an ill-tempered back-and-forth with an X user over the ongoing playoff series between the Panthers and Toronto. At one point in the exchange, Cifu branded the fan a "51st state anti semite loser."
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
NHL suspends Florida Panthers exec for back-and-forth with playoff opponent's fan about Israel, Canada
The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that a minority owner of the Florida Panthers has been suspended due to his social media activity. Doug Cifu got into a spat with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan that turned into a discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict and Cifu mentioning Canada as the "51st state." Florida and Toronto are currently facing off in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The series has been rather chippy, which began with a high hit from Florida's Sam Bennett on Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz - later in the game, Stolarz got sick on the bench and has not played since. A fan, with the name "Dr. Grizzo," posted on X, "Hey, what's worse, using headshots to win a series or using starvation as a weapon to win a war?" Cifu responded, "Actually being a whiny dope anti-semite is clearly worse. Loser." "Not approving of using starvation as a weapon makes me a bigot?" the fan replied, adding a derogatory comment about Cifu's conservative political views. Cifu wrote back, "Eat s--- 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated." Cifu then made his account private and deactivated his account. "Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media. My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions." The series is tied at two games apiece with Game 5 in Toronto on Wednesday night. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Florida Panthers minority owner suspended for 'unacceptable' social media posts
Florida Panthers minority owner suspended for 'unacceptable' social media posts Show Caption Hide Caption Can the Florida Panthers really go back-to-back? With a dominant roster and playoff experience, the Panthers are poised to make a strong run at back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Sports Pulse The NHL suspended a minority owner of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday for his recent "unacceptable and inappropriate" posts on social media. Doug Cifu, the team's vice chairman and alternate governor, is barred from any involvement with the team or the league pending a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at a later date. In a back-and-forth exchange Sunday with a Toronto fan on X (formerly Twitter) that began with comments about the ongoing playoff series between the Maple Leafs and Panthers, the topic switched to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. "Eat (expletive) 51st state anti-semite loser," one of Cifu's posts read. "Israel now and forever. Until ever (sic) last Hamas rat is eliminated." That post, which began by referencing President Donald Trump's remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state, was later deleted and the account was deactivated. "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." Cifu provided a statement Tuesday to Florida Hockey Now. "Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media," the statement read. "My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions." Cifu is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a business he co-founded with Panthers owner and chairman Vincent Viola in 2008. The Panthers and Maple Leafs are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 5 is in Toronto on Wednesday night.
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
NHL suspends Florida Panthers minority owner for ‘51st state' posts
The NHL suspended Doug Cifu, minority owner and vice chairman of the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday following what the league called 'unacceptable and inappropriate' social media posts made during a heated exchange with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Cifu, who also serves as the Panthers' alternate governor, is barred from any involvement with the team or the league pending an in-person meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The league did not specify when that meeting would take place. The offending messages were part of a back-and-forth on X (formerly Twitter) with a user identified as 'Dr Grizzo'. The exchange, which began with comments about the ongoing playoff series between the Maple Leafs and Panthers, quickly shifted to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Cifu's account prominently displayed five Israeli flags in his bio, alongside the statement 'all tweets mine'. Tensions escalated after Dr Grizzo wrote: 'Hey, what's worse, using headshots to win a series or using starvation as a weapon to win a war?' – an apparent reference to accusations of high hits by Florida players in the series and the broader geopolitical conflict. Cifu responded sharply: 'Actually being a whiny dope anti-semite is clearly worse. Loser.' The exchange grew more heated after Dr Grizzo replied: 'Not approving of using starvation as a weapon makes me a bigot?' He added further comments about Cifu's stock market success and political affiliations. That prompted Cifu to fire back with: 'Eat shit 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated.' His remarks referenced former US president Donald Trump's recent suggestion that Canada could be the '51st state', a comment that had drawn widespread debate. Cifu's account was made private shortly after the incident and was deactivated entirely by Monday. The NHL acted swiftly, announcing its decision in a statement: 'The NHL has concluded that Mr Cifu's X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate. As a result, Mr Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL.' The Florida Panthers did not release a statement of their own, instead pointing to an apology Cifu gave to Florida Hockey Now on Tuesday. 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,' Cifu said. 'My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.' Cifu is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a financial technology services company he co-founded with Panthers owner and chairman Vincent Viola in 2008. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup after the Panthers won their first championship in 2024. The Maple Leafs and Panthers are currently tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series, which has been marked by physical play and controversy over hits, including a collision in Game 1 that forced Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz to exit the series. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Toronto.
Global News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Florida Panthers vice chairman suspended by NHL over ‘unacceptable' social media posts
The NHL has suspended Florida Panthers vice chairman and alternate governor Doug Cifu from any involvement with the team or the league, doing so in response to inappropriate posts on Cifu's now-shuttered social media account. Cifu, in posts on X, got into a back-and-forth with a Toronto fan on Sunday night, the fan starting the exchange by comparing hits by Florida players in this ongoing series against the Maple Leafs to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. A post on Cifu's account shortly after, in response to the Toronto fan, referred to the fan a '51st state anti semite loser.' President Donald Trump has often said in recent months that he wants to see Canada added to the United States as the 51st state. That post was among those deleted not long afterward, and the account has since been suspended. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The NHL has concluded that Mr. Cifu's X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate,' the league said in a statement, first reported by The Toronto Sun. 'As a result, Mr. Cifu has been suspended indefinitely from any involvement with the Club and the NHL.' Story continues below advertisement 1:29 Leafs take home another win against Florida Panthers, lead series 2-0 Cifu — whose name is etched on the Stanley Cup, part of the group that the Panthers included in that tribute after winning their first title last year — is CEO of Virtu Financial, a company he co-founded with Panthers owner, chairman and governor Vincent Viola in 2008. Cifu will have an in-person meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman at some point. 'My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family,' Cifu said in a statement to Florida Hockey Now. 'I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.'
