Mail removes story about Hibs after club denial

On Monday, the MailOnline deleted their article about Carol Vorderman hiring a superyacht, having originally believed a joke she made on Twitter was true.

Yesterday, another story vanished from the Mail's website. This time, it was a football story by John McGarry which ran under the headline: Leigh Griffiths headbutts Hibs manager Pat Fenlon.

The story was soon picked up by the Telegraph (also deleted) and the Metro (not yet deleted).

The Mail said:

Leigh Griffiths has played his last game for Hibs after head-butting manager Pat Fenlon and then punching assistant Billy Brown in an astonishing training ground bust-up on Tuesday.

The on-loan Wolves star is understood to have taken exception to comments made by the Easter Road manager at the Ormiston complex.

It seems the 21-year-old striker, who is on loan until the end of the season, was disgusted at being singled out for criticism over recent displays and simply blew a fuse. The flashpoint came at the end of a stormy training session in the aftermath of Sunday’s derby defeat to Hearts.

Sportsmail understands several Hibs players had to be pulled apart earlier in the day before being addressed by Fenlon.

When Fenlon’s attention turned to Griffiths, the player snapped and butted the Irishman, knocking his glasses off.

After the ugly altercation, the Scotland Under-21 star marched off in the direction of the changing rooms hotly pursued by Fenlon’s assistant Brown. Griffiths is then said to have landed a punch on Brown which knocked over the former Hearts No 2.

He then raced to the changing room where he emptied his locker and sped off.

Gripping stuff. Except:

Hibernian has moved to address erroneous press reports regarding an alleged incident involving Leigh Griffiths at the Hibernian Training Centre yesterday.

Contrary to a report in today's Daily Mail, Leigh Griffiths did not head butt Manager Pat Fenlon nor punch Assistant Manager Billy Brown. The striker will be in the squad for Saturday's crucial SPL fixture versus Dundee United.

Pat Fenlon said, "Yesterday was typical training ground stuff, and I'm surprised at the rubbish in the press today. As is usual for high tempo training sessions, involving committed players and coaching staff, robust views and opinions are shared, and yesterday's session was no different.

"Leigh is a quality striker, and a lively personality, and will remain a key part of my team for the rest of the season. There's nothing at all in the story. We just want to focus on winning games and getting up the table."

Hibernian will not tolerate, nor be distracted by, unverified and irresponsible 'reporting' in the media. 

Hibs club captain James McPake told his Twitter followers:

(Hat-tip to Anonymous)