3 forgotten Rangers vs Celtic ref calls from VAR penalty pardon for Liam Scales to Fabio Silva 'amateur dramatics'

It was never going to be a clash without controversy – and John Beaton certainly had a busy afternoon at Ibrox.

It was an Old Firm blockbuster as Rangers and Celtic battled out a 3-3 derby thriller with the Scottish Premiership title hopefuls going full throttle in their bid to claim the silverware. But whistler Beaton and the VAR team were involved heavily with Celtic being awarded a first-half penalty following a handball by Connor Goldson, allowing Matt O'Riley to score from the spot to make it 2-0.

Things didn't get any quieter in the second half for the man in the middle as he awarded a penalty to Rangers after a VAR review flagged contact between Alistair Johnston and Fabio Silva in the box. Seconds later Cyriel Dessers thought he had levelled the game at 2-2 – but VAR and Beaton chalked off the strike for a foul on Tomoki Iwata by Tom Lawrence in the build-up.

But those were not the only key flashpoints that VAR put in focus on derby day. Record Sport looks a some of the big calls that went under the radar.

The Wolves loanee was at the centre of the talking points following the Ibrox blockbuster - and thought he had won his side a penalty with Celtic leading the game 1-0. Under pressure from Liam Scales on the edge of the box, Silva took a tumble - but despite his protests, his claims for a spot-kick were waved away. VAR backed up the man in the middle, with Chris Sutton stating on Sky Sports: "Some of the Rangers players appealing for a penalty there. It's slightly optimistic."

Kenny Miller chimed in: "Tom Lawrence definitely was appealing. I think it was just outside the box as well - so there is the answer."

The penalty award wasn't the only clash between these two - with the Celtic defender halting the run