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Report: Panthers owner Viola punched concessions worker

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola was reportedly accused of punching a concessions worker at a racehorse auction in August, according to Michael S. Schmidt from the New York Times, citing a police report and law officials.

From Wednesday's report:

Police officers did not witness the episode. When officers arrived at the scene, however, the concessions worker had a "swollen bloody lip" and said that Mr. Viola had punched him in the face, according to the police report.

Mr. Viola, 60, a retired Army Ranger who owns the Florida Panthers hockey team, told the police that the man had pushed his wife as she tried to enter a restricted area to get water for a woman who had fainted, the report said. The concessions worker, whose name is redacted from the report, told officers that he did not push Mr. Viola's wife, according to local law enforcement officials.

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Viola as secretary of the Army under his administration. Viola's spokesperson informed the Times that Trump's team knew of the matter.

The spokesperson also released this statement: "Mr. Viola loves his wife and regrets the incident."

The Times obtained another statement from Viola's camp, which explained no charges were filed and that they "consider this matter closed."

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