Rangers manager Philippe Clement has come to the defense of Wolves loanee Fabio Silva following accusations of diving during Sunday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Premiership title rivals Celtic. The Portugal Under-21 international found himself at the center of controversy as his actions led to Rangers being awarded a penalty after falling under a challenge by Alistair Johnston in the visitors’ area. While Silva was initially booked for simulation, referee John Beaton overturned the decision following a VAR review.
The decision to award the penalty sparked anger and frustration among various figures within the football community. Former Celtic favorites Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton criticized Silva for his actions that ultimately led to Rangers making a comeback after being two goals down at half-time. Celtic has even reached out to the SFA seeking clarification on the VAR process that was implemented during the incident.
Clement fired back against Silva’s critics, defending his player and asserting that Beaton made the correct decision after reviewing the incident on a pitch-side monitor. He argued that players from other teams also exhibit similar behaviors and emphasized the need for managers and referees to address such issues within the game.
Ahead of Rangers’ upcoming match against Dundee, Clement addressed the media, saying: “I’m also disappointed when we score a goal and they go back more than 10 seconds. I didn’t make any comments about that, nothing. So don’t put a stamp on Fabio about that situation because he got kicked on the knee. That’s the reality. It’s a penalty.”
Meanwhile, former Rangers defender Craig Moore offered his predictions for the Premiership title race, foreseeing both Celtic and Rangers dropping points but ultimately backing Rangers to emerge victorious. However, Moore expressed doubts about either Glasgow club making a notable impact in the following season’s Champions League, citing historical challenges faced by Scottish teams in the competition.
