The NHL suspended Florida Panthers executive and minority owner Douglas Cifu on Monday night for inappropriate comments on social media, according to the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star.
Cifu reportedly made comments toward a Toronto Maple Leafs fan after Florida’s 2-0 win in Game 4.
Cifu is suspended indefinitely, forbidding him from any involvement with the league and the Panthers, according to the Sun.
The NHL provided a statement to the Star, saying, “An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the Commissioner at a date to be determined,” the NHL said in a statement to the Star.
An X account belonging to Cifu responded to the fan’s post and used vulgar, inflammatory language, including telling them to “eat s---” and calling them a “51st state anti-semite loser.”
Since then, Cifu deleted the post and his account.
The Panthers organization has not addressed the suspension of Cifu or his comments yet.
This isn’t the first time Cifu reportedly made derogatory comments on social media. There was another instance in late March targeting individuals with special needs.
Cifu is the vice chairman, partner and alternate governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (SSE), according to the Panthers website. He is also the CEO of Virtu Financial, a company that provides financial technology products and services. He co-founded the company with Vincent Viola, who is the Panthers' owner, chairman and governor.
He is also a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the board of visitors of Columbia College at Columbia University.
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