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NHL Suspends Panthers Executive Doug Cifu Over Offensive Social Media Posts

Doug Cifu, indefinitely barred from NHL activities, will meet with Commissioner Gary Bettman following inflammatory comments about Canada and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Douglas Cifu during a Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 press conference in Sunrise, Fla.
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Doug Cifu, CEO of Virtu Financial, Inc., speaks during the Piper Sandler Global Exchange and FinTech Conference in New York City, U.S., June 5, 2024.  REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Overview

  • Doug Cifu, Florida Panthers vice chairman and minority owner, was suspended indefinitely by the NHL for offensive remarks on X (formerly Twitter).
  • The posts, which referred to Canada as the '51st state' and included inflammatory comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, were deemed unacceptable by the league.
  • Cifu has since deleted his X account and issued an apology, acknowledging that his behavior did not align with the standards of the Panthers organization.
  • The NHL announced an in-person meeting between Cifu and Commissioner Gary Bettman to determine further disciplinary actions.
  • This incident follows a heated playoff series between the Panthers and Maple Leafs, with tensions spilling over into online exchanges.