PHILIPPE Clement has denied that Fabio Silva directed a gesture towards Rangers fans following his goal against Kilmarnock in the cinch Premiership game at Ibrox last weekend.
But the Belgian revealed he had spoken to the £35m Wolves loanee about the controversial incident during the league match and predicted the 21-year-old would not repeat his actions in future.
The Portuguese forward ran over to the Union Bears in the Broomloan Road Stand after netting an equaliser against Derek McInnes’s side in the eighth minute of added on time at the end of the first-half.
READ MORE: Philippe Clement reveals changes to Rangers player-fan interaction
He turned his back on the ultras group, lifted his shirt and then gesticulated with his hand – a gesture which was widely interpreted as a response to the criticism which he and his team mates have received in recent weeks.
Clement dismissed those suggestions when he spoke at his pre-match press conference today ahead of the Premiership showdown with Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon. However, he stated that he had addressed the matter with the player this week.
“It was out of the emotion and the frustration that he wants to do really good for the club. So it was the wrong reaction. But he knows that and it will never happen again.”
Meanwhile, Clement has refused to respond on reports linking Rangers with a summer move for Levski Sofia defender Jose Cordoba or confirm if the Panamanian internationalist was at Ibrox for the Kilmarnock game.
READ MORE: Rangers manager has relished getting middle finger from Celtic fans
“I have said from the beginning that I will never comment on rumours because if I had to comment on all of them and, if it was true, I would be training with 300 or 400 players,” he said.
“It will not be the case so we will keep control of that. If I say yes we are far down the road with somebody and we don’t get there it’s no use. Then, next moment, I get asked about a player we were never interested in.
“And if I say the same things I am lying and I don ‘t want to do that. I want to stay open and honest so I cannot give comment on these things.”
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