Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon denied gesturing towards taunting Hearts fans after he was sent to the stand in the final seconds of his team's 5-1 William Hill Scottish Cup final drubbing at Hampden.
A Rudi Skacel double and goals from Darren Barr, Danny Grainger - from the spot - and Ryan McGowan had Hearts on easy street. Hibernian defender Pa Kujabi was sent off just after the break for picking up his second yellow card for a foul on Suso Santana in conceding the penalty which Grainger tucked away.
As the celebrating Hearts supporters mockingly chanted "There's only one Pat Fenlon", the Irishman appeared to gesture at them and was sent off by referee Craig Thomson. But he said: "No, I didn't. I made a gesture in relation to the way we were playing. We kept giving the ball away cheaply. I don't know what they were singing, to be honest."
Fenlon went on: "There is a helluva lot made in relation to the gesture but we want to talk about the game, we were well beaten today, they were miles ahead of us and it was a difficult day for everybody."
He appeared confused as to why he was punished. He said: "I don't know (why). I didn't ask him about that. I didn't get to speak to the referee, he was the last person I wanted to speak to. It was frustration with the way we are playing. The referee said it was the police but I spoke to the police who said they had nothing to do with it so it is disappointing."
Hibernian's consolation goal came before the break from skipper James McPake when he reduced the deficit to 2-1. But that lifeline only last four minutes into the second half when Hearts added goals three and four to effectively secure their first cup win in six years.
Fenlon slated his players, who survived relegation from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League by the skin of their teeth, and promised changes at the club next season.
"I apologise to our own supporters, it was a desperately disappointing day," he said. "We didn't have any players today, it was probably summed up in that (substitute) Eoin Doyle was probably our best player and I don't know how long he was on. When you send a team out the least you expect is desire and work rate and we didn't have that today."
Hearts' Portuguese boss, Paulo Sergio, who is out of contract this summer, said: "It is not a moment to be speaking about my future. I don't know if it my last game, I will see. It is not winning the Cup or not winning the Cup that can make me stay or not, there are a lot of things to talk about. The important thing is Hearts.
"It is probably my biggest achievement as manager. I was champion in the first season as coach and we got promoted. I lost the final of the Portuguese Cup against Porto and I have won a final as a player and won some promotions, good moments but this is different."
