MLS commissioner Don Garber said his X account was “compromised” after a since-deleted post appeared to taunt British Columbia Premier David Eby.
Eby posted a 45-second video on his X account on Wednesday pledging that he is working to prevent the Vancouver Whitecaps from relocating.
“The Whitecaps are British Columbia, and I want you to know that we are at the table fighting hard to save the Whitecaps,” Eby told the team’s fans in the video.
A direct reply to Eby’s post from Garber’s account said, “Liar liar pants on fire.”
About an hour later, Garber posted an explanation: “My account was compromised earlier this evening. The issue has been resolved. I appreciate Premier Eby for taking the time to meet with me today.”
MLS executive vice president of communications Dan Courtemanche backed up the commissioner, posting on X that “Commissioner Garber was hacked and did not post this.”
Garber, 68, commissioner of the league since 1999, is in Vancouver to attend Thursday’s FIFA Congress and to meet with government leaders about the future of the Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps originally were founded in 1974 as a member of the North American Soccer League and were later revived as an MLS franchise in 2009.
The team has been up for sale since December 2024 but “no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here” despite serious conversations with more than 100 interested parties, according to the team.
ESPN reported earlier this week that investor groups from Phoenix and Las Vegas have expressed interested in buying and moving the team.
–Field Level Media
