Leigh Griffiths quits Twitter after denying ‘lowest of the low’ claims

Scotland player Leigh Griffiths quits Twitter after denying ‘lowest of the low’ claims he mocked the death of Kyle Lafferty’s sister.

He can be seen liking a post of his Northern Ireland rival who missed out on the Euros following a defeat to Hungary whilst the Scots knocked out Serbia on penalties on Thursday night.

Earlier this month, Kyle Lafferty’s older sister Sonia passed away in hospital on the 5th of November due to poor health.

Following dressing room celebrations, Griffiths like a picture on Twitter of Northern Ireland player Lafferty distraught at his country’s failure. The Scottish forward has since said he has had to deal with a barrage of abuse.

The original picture by @Robbiemck1997 was captioned ‘The only thing that could make tonight better. Is this picture.’

By liking the photo, Griffiths’ drew the wrath of some football fans who claimed he liked it to mock the death of Lafferty’s sister Sonia who passed away on November 5. The 41-year-old died in a Belfast hospital after being in poor health for some time.

This has resulted in Griffiths deactivating his Twitter account and taking to Instagram with a statement to deny and condemn the accusations.

‘Not that I should have to, but after what I’m seeing on social media I feel I need to,’ he shared via his Instagram story.

‘After last night’s win, I want to state that I was NOT slagging Kyle Lafferty for losing a family member, that is the lowest of the low and not the type of person I am.

‘The picture was in a Northern Ireland strip and the fact they DIDN’T qualify and we did, which has been a huge achievement for the entire nation!

‘Everyone gets carried away and people think I liked it before his sister died, absolutely not.

‘We won, they didn’t, we’ve been mocked for years about failure, but we did it.

‘I don’t deserve what I’ve been sent, but I’ve had enough and something needed to be said on the matter!’

Griffiths has battled with mental health issues and urged people in April to speak out if suffering.

The forward missed the second half of the 2019/20 season with personal issues and didn’t want anyone subjected to the demons he himself faced.

Speaking about those potentially struggling with lockdown enforced due to the coronavirus pandemic, Griffiths’ advice to the Celtic View podcast in April was: ‘Just to speak up. That’s the most important thing.

‘If people keep stuff bottled in a lot – and that was the case with me, I kept things bottled up – it will tip you over the edge.

‘But the more you speak out, there are loads of people who will be willing to listen and give you advice.

‘If you can speak out, it might end up helping you, and you can start enjoying life again.’

Scotland put their fans through the emotions as Steve Clarke’s men were two minutes away from a 1-0 win in normal time after Ryan Christie’s goal, but a Luka Jovic injury-time equaliser forced the tie to extra-time.

Clarke took off his three most influential players in QPR’s Lyndon Dykes, Aston Villa’s John McGinn and Celtic’s Ryan Christie before Serbia got a late dramatic equaliser and Scotland lost their spark in extra-time, however held on to take the game to penalties, winning 5-4.

Scotland’s reward for the win in Belgrade is a place in Group D alongside England, Croatia and Czech Republic

What an absolute scumbag Griffiths is

I knew he was low, but I’m actual shocked he’s went that low after what happened to Lafferty’s sister

Absolute scum ????? pic.twitter.com/Umc5yOEDo8

— ??????? ?????? (@RangersSpares__) November 13, 2020

Remember the young boy mocked Brown about his sister and every single Rangers fan stuck up for Brown and said the person should be punished

Now Griffiths has mocked Lafferty and every Celtic fan is sticking up for him and saying he’s done no wrong

That’s the levels

— ??????? ?????? (@RangersSpares__) November 13, 2020

I don’t remember seeing any Northern Irish player mock Scotland for not qualifying?! At least be honest and say he was liking it because Lafferty played for us and he was happy to see him upset. Griffiths is in a perpetual state of victimhood though.

— Andrew (@GersAndrew) November 13, 2020

Leigh Griffiths… you took months off football due to depression and a gambling issue, Kyle lafferty has just played a massive game on the same week his sister died of cancer, your a horrible wee cunt

— Reece johnstone (@Reecejohn5tone) November 13, 2020

Only Leigh Griffiths would turn a positive night for Scotland into a Rangers V celtic thing. The guy has mental health issues, he really does need help. That tweet is beyond banter considering the Lafferty’s family loss last week.

— Logie (@legendsofibrox) November 13, 2020

Griffiths is a bit of a dafty at times and should chuck Twitter in all honesty but fuck me, nobody I’ve spoken to had a clue about Lafferty’s sister so it’s perfectly reasonable he didn’t either.

If you’re claiming he did, present evidence before saying something so outlandish.

— call me on my (@spunkphone) November 13, 2020

Fuck Leigh Griffiths – no apology, no condolences to Lafferty – all about him, never mind the insensitive tweet he quoted after liking the picture too

— Robyn (@RobynnPhillipss) November 13, 2020

Rangers fans using the tragic death of Kyle Lafferty’s sister to try to point score against Leigh Griffiths is a new level of sad desperation.

— David Currie ? (@thedavidcurrie) November 13, 2020

See if you’re taking the fact that Leigh Griffiths liking a tweet with Kyle Lafferty in tears and turning it as tho he’s laughing at his sister then your head is the 1 that’s fucked. Twitter has become an utter cesspit for shite like this.

— Cleary (@stephencl8) November 13, 2020

I doubt Griffiths knew the situation with Lafferty but regardless, tells you everything you need to know about him. Scotland just qualified for their first major tournament in 22 years and he’s on Twitter liking tweets about ex Rangers players. His attitude is absolutely stinkin

— Nicole ✨ (@_nic__x) November 13, 2020

Can someone please talk me through the mental gymnastics of linking Griffiths liking that photo with Lafferty’s sister being dead?

— Disco_MUA (@TheGaffro) November 13, 2020

These cunts are genuinely unwell. I seen the photos of Lafferty greeting last night and had absolutely no idea about his sister. Absolutely not a chance was that Griffiths’ intentions but these morons will create their own narrative as usual ?‍♀️ https://t.co/29kiV0dR4n

— Paulo Di Jollio (@PantofolaDCSC) November 13, 2020