Key Takeaways
- Don Garber says hackers posted an insult calling BC Premier David Eby dishonest on his X profile.
- The incident occurs as the Vancouver Whitecaps threaten relocation to the United States due to stadium financial issues.
- The Canadian club claims its current lease at BC Place makes it impossible to remain profitable in Vancouver.
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has alleged that his social media account was compromised following a controversial post that attacked a senior Canadian politician. The incident has intensified scrutiny over the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
On Wednesday evening, a message appeared on Garber’s X profile accusing British Columbia Premier David Eby of dishonesty using childish language. The post emerged just hours after Eby released a video message pledging government support to keep the football club in the province.
Garber later insisted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to his profile. He published an explanation at 10pm Pacific Time, stating the security breach had been resolved and thanking Premier Eby for their recent meeting. Dan Courtemanche, an MLS communications executive, also informed supporters that the commissioner had been the victim of hacking.
The timing of this social media incident is particularly sensitive. Garber is currently in Vancouver attending the FIFA Congress, where he has been discussing the Whitecaps’ stadium situation with local authorities. The club has warned that it may move to an American city such as Las Vegas or Phoenix unless it secures a better financial arrangement.
The Whitecaps currently play their home matches at BC Place, a stadium owned by the provincial government through PavCo, a state-run corporation. The team argues that its current lease agreement makes it impossible to operate profitably in Vancouver, even after recent negotiations to improve the terms.
Chief Executive Axel Schuster recently explained that while the revised deal provides some relief, it fails to address fundamental financial problems. The club has signed preliminary agreements to build a football-specific ground within the city, though officials acknowledge this project would require several years to complete.
Sources indicate that Garber was having dinner with senior US Soccer Federation officials when he learned of the offensive post. Like many high-ranking sports administrators, the commissioner does not personally manage his social media accounts and had not published a personal update on the platform for several years prior to this incident.