In a bizarre turn of events that has soccer fans buzzing, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber found himself in a social media storm after his X (formerly Twitter) account posted a fiery message calling British Columbia Premier David Eby a "liar." The post, which has since been deleted, was quickly attributed to a compromised account—but the damage to the ongoing Whitecaps relocation saga was already done.
The controversy stems from a long-running dispute between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the provincial government over BC Place, the stadium where the team plays. Whitecaps ownership has repeatedly cited serious financial struggles tied to the venue, owned by the province, and rumors have swirled that the club could be eyeing a move to Las Vegas or Phoenix. It's a story that has captivated MLS fans and raised questions about the future of soccer in Vancouver.
Earlier Thursday, Premier Eby posted a 45-second video on his own X account, directly addressing Whitecaps supporters. "The Whitecaps are British Columbia, and I want you to know that we are at the table fighting hard to save the Whitecaps," he said, striking a conciliatory tone.
But just four hours later, Garber's account fired back with a post that read, "Liar liar pants on fire." The tweet, timestamped at 8 p.m. Pacific time, was quickly screenshotted by fans before disappearing around 9 p.m. In its place, a new post appeared: "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 also jumped into the fray, replying to fans that Garber had been "hacked." According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Garber was at dinner with U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone and CEO JT Batson when he learned of the rogue post. Notably, Garber—like many high-profile sports executives—doesn't typically manage his own social media, and he hasn't directly replied to an X post in years.
The timing couldn't be more dramatic. Garber was in Vancouver for FIFA's congress, where he's been meeting with local government leaders to discuss the Whitecaps' future. The tension has been building for months, with the team's ownership making it clear they're exploring options. For fans, this latest episode adds another layer of intrigue to a saga that could reshape the MLS map—and it's a reminder that in the world of sports, even the biggest names can get caught in a social media firestorm.
