Latest news with #Cifu
Edmonton Journal
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Florida Panthers' names engraved on Stanley Cup with one notably person missing
Article content But one name was noticeably absent: Doug Cifu. Article content Cifu, whose name is included alongside members of the 2023-24 Cup winners as a part-owner and executive, resigned after making several vulgar posts on social media earlier this year. Article content Cifu, the team's vice-chairman, partner and alternate governor, appeared to have made several disturbing comments on social media Sunday night after watching his team defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their NHL playoff series. Article content The post on X appeared to take shots at a Leafs fan and Canada in general, while commenting on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in screenshots taken of posts that have now been made private. Article content 'Eat s— 51st state anti semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever (sic) last Hamas rat is eliminated,' the X account allegedly belonging to Cifu posted. Article content Article content 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,' Cifu said in the statement. 'My behaviour does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. Article content 'I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.' Article content Cifu's viral post was a reply to @mrgrozz, a Toronto sports fan account that has bragged about trolling sports team owners in the past. Article content In the original post, which has been reposted as a screenshot, Dr. Grizzo compared the controversial hits by the NHL team to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Article content Panthers owner tilted LFG 😂😂😂 — Dr. Grizzo (PhD, MD, BA, MBA, 7'4 240 IQ) (@mrgrozz) May 12, 2025 Article content Article content 'Hey what's worse, using headshots to win a series or using starvation as a weapon to win a war?' the post on X said. Article content Cifu allegedly replied, writing: 'Actually being a whiny dope anti semite is clearly worse. Loser.' Article content 'Not approving of using starvation as a weapon makes me a bigot? Got it,' Dr. Grizzo replied. 'Get some sleep man, market opens early tomorrow. Best of luck frontrunning Robinhood traders you MAGA d— licker.' Article content After the exchange, the account appearing to belong to Cifu went private and was deactivated. The NHL came down hard on Cifu, suspending him indefinitely from any and all involvement with the team and the league. '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 to Postmedia. 'An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the commissioner at a date to be determined.'
New Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
European footballers increasingly eyeing moves to M-League
KUALA LUMPUR: More European footballers are eyeing moves to Malaysia, inspired by the success of naturalised players and the growing Spanish contingent lighting up the M-League. What once seemed a distant option is fast becoming a genuine pathway, with stars like Andoni Zubiaurre, Juan Muniz, Oscar Arribas and Miguel Cifuentes, better known as Cifu, flourishing at Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Sabah. "The life I found here is much better than I expected," said Muniz, who joined JDT from Greece in 2023 and now anchors their midfield. "It's peaceful, professional and competitive — everything a footballer could want." Arribas, who arrived from Spain's Segunda Division, echoed the sentiment in comments to the Spanish FA. "Playing here is like playing for a La Liga team. We're treated with so much respect, the facilities are top-class, and the fans see us as stars," he said. Harimau Malaya's 4-0 rout of Vietnam in the Asian Cup qualifiers last week, featuring a debut goal by Argentine-born striker Rodrigo Holgado, has only strengthened the country's footballing reputation. Holgado, currently with America de Cali in Colombia, is among a wave of naturalised players representing Harimau Malaya, alongside Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Hector Hevel and Gabriel Palmero. Their presence has drawn attention across Europe and South America, where footballers and fans alike are starting to see Malaysia as more than just a late-career detour. "There's talk now — players asking what it's really like in Malaysia, whether it's worth the move," said Cifu, who joined Sabah without an agent. "And I tell them the truth: yes, it is." JDT's clean sweep of domestic trophies last season, powered by Muniz, Zubiaurre and Arribas, and Cifu's renaissance at Sabah, are no longer viewed as outliers — they're part of a growing shift in perception. "Honestly, it's been one of the most enriching experiences of my career, not just as a footballer but as a person," said Cifu. "It opened my mind to a different culture, different football, and gave me a second life on the pitch." With Malaysia now top of Group F in the Asian Cup qualifiers and key fixtures against Laos, Nepal and Vietnam on the horizon, interest in the national project continues to grow along with speculation over possible new 'additions' for October's crucial clashes.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panthers Minority Owner Will Not Attend Stanley Cup Final
Doug Cifu, a minority owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers whose name is engraved on the Stanley Cup, remains in the league's penalty box. Cifu was suspended by the NHL over his social media activity after Game 4 of the Panthers' second-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 11. When asked via email by Sportico Thursday if he'll be able to attend the Stanley Cup Finals games against the Edmonton Oilers, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote, 'He is not currently permitted to attend games as a function of his suspension. So I guess the answer is no.' Advertisement More from Cifu responded to a Leafs fan on the social media platform X who, noticing Israeli flags in the owner's bio, wrote that Israel was 'using starvation as a weapon to win a war' in Gaza. In a subsequent back-and-forth, Cifu used explicit language and called the fan a '51st state anti semite loser'—the last part of the message an apparent reference to President Donald Trump suggesting Canada join the U.S. The NHL suspended Cifu indefinitely from having any involvement with the club or the league. In addition to his minority share, Cifu serves as the Panthers' vice chairman and is its alternate governor for league matters. 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,' Cifu told Florida Hockey Now in a statement after his suspension was first announced. '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.' Advertisement The Panthers did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Cifu is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a high-frequency trading company that he co-founded with Vincent Viola in 2008. He purchased a minority share in the Panthers when Viola bought the franchise in 2013. The Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year where they'll face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last year's final. With the Oilers having home-ice advantage, Games 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary) would be played in Sunrise, Fl. The Stanley Cup Final begins on June 4 in Edmonton. Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu suspended by NHL over 'unacceptable and inappropriate' comments on social media
Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu was suspended by the NHL after making "unacceptable and inappropriate" comments on social media, the league announced Tuesday. The incident occurred following the Panthers' 2-0 win in Game 4 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Following the victory, Cifu engaged in a back-and-forth with a fan that included profanity, taunting and comments about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The latter issue was brought up by the fan due to Cifu's support of Israel on his X account. Cifu also had five Israeli flag emojis in his bio. His X account was set to private and then deleted shortly after the back-and-forth. After multiple tweets with the fan, Cifu eventually responded, "Eat s*** 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated." The NHL did not specify a particular tweet in its announcement, merely stating Cifu was suspended for "unacceptable and inappropriate" posts. Cifu will need to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before being reinstated from the suspension, per the league statement. "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. An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the Commissioner at a date to be determined." Cifu apologized for those comments in a statement to Florida Hockey Now. In the statement, Cifu said he made "regrettable and inflammatory comments." 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,'' Cifu wrote in a statement. "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 Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola. He and Cifu co-founded Virtu Financial in 2008. Cifu has held an ownership stake in the Panthers since 2013, when Viola purchased the team. Cifu is listed as the "vice chairman, partner, and alternate governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (SSE), the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, FLA Live Arena, and SSE's additional operating entities," on the Panthers' website. He still serves as the CEO at Virtu Financial and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu suspended by NHL over 'unacceptable and inappropriate' comments on social media
Florida Panthers minority owner Doug Cifu was suspended by the NHL after making "unacceptable and inappropriate" comments on social media, the league announced Tuesday. The incident occurred following the Panthers' 2-0 win in Game 4 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Following the victory, Cifu engaged in a back-and-forth with a fan that included profanity, taunting and comments about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The latter issue was brought up by the fan due to Cifu's support of Israel on his X account. Cifu also had five Israeli flag emojis in his bio. His X account was set to private and then deleted shortly after the back-and-forth. After multiple tweets with the fan, Cifu eventually responded, "Eat s*** 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever [sic] last Hamas rat is eliminated." The NHL did not specify a particular tweet in its announcement, merely stating Cifu was suspended for "unacceptable and inappropriate" posts. Cifu will need to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before being reinstated from the suspension, per the league statement. "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. An in-person meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Cifu and the Commissioner at a date to be determined." Cifu apologized for those comments in a statement to Florida Hockey Now. In the statement, Cifu said he made "regrettable and inflammatory comments." 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,'' Cifu wrote in a statement. "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 Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola. He and Cifu co-founded Virtu Financial in 2008. Cifu has held an ownership stake in the Panthers since 2013, when Viola purchased the team. Cifu is listed as the "vice chairman, partner, and alternate governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (SSE), the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, FLA Live Arena, and SSE's additional operating entities," on the Panthers' website. He still serves as the CEO at Virtu Financial and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
