Pogba denies offensive gesture

French midfielder Paul Pogba has fended off suggestions that he had made an offensive gesture celebrating his country's latest last-gasp win over Albania.

Pogba had been criticised for his performance in France's opening win over Romania. He was a substitute against Albania but came on to provide the assist for Dmitri Payet's stoppage time goal.

Pictures of him celebrating showed his arm waving, apparently directed at the press tribune.

"I want to say very sincerely, and very strongly, that whatever interpretation one can make about the images, I never had the intention to 'demonstrate' or to attack anyone or to take revenge," Pogba said in a statement to AFP.

"I turned to the stand where my mother and brothers were sitting and I did my usual dance with my arm in the air and with a raised fist.”