Greg Wyshynski
The NHL has suspended the owner of the Florida Panthers minority, Doug Cifu, of any involvement in the team or the league after a series of offensive publications on social networks on Sunday evening.
CIFU will have a person in person with the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, on a later date.
The incriminated messages came from a back and forth with a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the current opponent of the Panthers, who violated the declarations on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as well as a reference to Canada becoming the 51st state. President Donald Trump has said that he wanted to see Canada adding to the United States in recent months as the 51st state.
CIFU is the vice-president and alternative governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, The Panthers, FLA Live Arena and the additional SSE operational entities. He is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a financial technology services company co-founded by the owner of Florida, Vincent Viola, in 2008.
When they were asked for comments, the Panthers highlighted a statement that CIFU provided to Florida Hockey now on Tuesday:
“Two days ago, I published regrettable and inflammatory comments on social networks. My behavior does not reflect the standards of the organization of Florida Panthers and the family of the viola. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to modify my actions.”
The incriminated messages came to an exchange on X with a supporter of the Maple Leafs with the “Dr. Grizzo” handle on May 11, the night of the Victory of Panthers match 4 in their series with Toronto. The series presented several strokes of Florida players on the skaters of the Leafs as well as a collision between the center of Florida Sam Bennett and the goalkeeper of Toronto Anthony Stolarz, who contributed to Stolarz leaving their series in match 1.
Dr. Grizzo wrote: “Hey, what’s worse, using head shots to win a series or use famine as a weapon to win a war?”
On X, the flow of CIFU contained messages of support for Israel and had five Israeli flags in its biography, as well as the declaration “all tweets”.
CIFU responded to this message with: “In fact, being an anti -Semitic of Dope Pleurnichard is clearly worse. Loser.”
Dr. Grizzo replied: “Do not approve to use famine as a weapon made of me a fanatic?” Before adding comments on CIFE’s stock market prowess and political trends.
This has favored the CIFU to write: “Eat S — 51st state anti-Semitic loser. Israel now and forever. Until the last Hamas rat is eliminated.”
The next day, CIFU made its private X account before deactivating its flow.
The NHL has been informed of messages and suspended CIFU.
“The NHL concluded that Mr. Ciffe’s X positions were unacceptable and inappropriate,” the League said in a statement. “Consequently, Mr. CIFU has been suspended indefinitely of any involvement with the club and the NHL. A meeting in person will be planned with Mr. CIFA and the commissioner on a date to be determined.”
Panthers are the title champions of the Stanley Cup and are equally 2-2 in their second round series with Toronto. After this title in 2024, the name of CIFU is on the Stanley Cup.
