Deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the suspension, which came about after the posts were made on an X account that has since been deactivated.

The incident occurred following the Panthers' 2-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their second-round series. Cifu responded to a Leafs fan who likened controversial hits by the Panthers to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The fan’s question prompted Cifu to post inflammatory comments that have since drawn significant backlash.

Among Cifu's replies were statements like, "Actually being a whiny dope anti semite is clearly worse. Loser" and "Eat s-t 51st state anti-semite loser. Israel now and forever. Until ever last Hamas rat is eliminated." These remarks quickly became a focal point of controversy, leading to his suspension.

Cifu’s indefinite suspension was first reported by the Toronto Sun. According to Daly, Cifu will meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss the duration of his suspension at a convenient time.

Cifu, known for actively using his former X account (@dougielarge) to support the team and engage with fans, is a vice-chairman, partner and alternate governor of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. He has held an ownership stake in the Panthers since 2013 when he bought the team alongside Vincent Viola.

In light of the controversy, Cifu issued an apology through Florida Hockey Now, stating, "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."

Cifu’s name is engraved on the Stanley Cup, following last year's victory over the Edmonton Oilers. His future with the Panthers now remains uncertain as he navigates the repercussions of his online comments.