Leigh Griffiths rages at 'stupid' penalty decision in Scottish Cup final

Leigh Griffiths has vented his anger at referee Craig Thomson following Hibernian’s 5-1 Scottish Cup final defeat to Hearts.

Thomson awarded a penalty to Hearts early in the second half after Pa Kujabi pulled back Suso Santana. The foul appeared to have occurred outside the box but Danny Grainger netted from the spot to give Hearts a 3-1 lead.

Kujabi picked up a second yellow card for the foul and was sent off.

Griffiths said that he felt the decision had ruined the final.

"We go in at half-time and say the next goal is crucial and then we come out and after a minute and a half the referee gives a stupid penalty,” he said.

“We have been told it was nowhere near in the box.

"So that kind of spoils the game and we are down to 10 men. It's backs against the wall and then we lose a goal three minutes later which effectively kills the game off."

The striker who is now set to return to parent club Wolves, said that not only was the foul not in the penalty area but that there was no infringement at all.

"I thought [Santana] dived. I'm behind him and I don't think Pa has touched him,” Griffiths added.

"It's a big match and you need big officials and unfortunately Craig Thomson didn't turn up today.

"People are saying he should have sent Ian Black off for the challenge on me early on, I thought he should at least have got a booking.

"Five minutes later Pa Kujabi puts in a fair challenge and he gets booked.

"I don't want to talk about the ref, it's just a bitter blow.

"To lose a cup final is bad but to lose against Hearts, especially 5-1, is a hammer blow to take."

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