Neil Lennon has hit back at Rangers manager Philippe Clement’s remarks following the contentious penalty decisions in the Celtic-Rangers clash.

Clement was displeased with the penalty awarded to Celtic for a handball, while Lennon expressed surprise at his counterpart’s reaction to VAR’s assistance in the match.

Lennon told Sky Sports, “At first glance, I felt Johnston made a clean tackle. Upon review, there may have been slight contact, but it was minimal.

“He practically ran into Johnston. The way he went down was quite dramatic.

“I disagree with Philippe’s comments – Goldson’s handball was not a penalty, but the other one was – absolute nonsense.”

Clement, on the other hand, argued that the penalty given to Rangers was a clear foul on Fabio Silva, suggesting the decision to book him was unwarranted.

According to the Daily Record, he stated, “There is no doubt that it was a penalty. Everyone saw it was a foul. He (Fabio Silva) was kicked on the knee. It was definitely a penalty, and it’s a bit unfortunate he received a yellow card first.

“VAR is crucial in such situations. It’s not a knock on the referee; they have to make snap judgments, and it’s impossible to catch everything. This is where VAR is essential in football.”

The differing opinions of Lennon and Clement on the penalty incidents showcased their contrasting views, with referee John Beaton offering a middle ground.

Ultimately, Beaton deemed both penalties valid with the assistance of VAR. While Celtic’s penalty was straightforward due to Goldson’s handball, the situation surrounding Silva’s penalty had minimal contact, suggesting the player may have sought the decision.

VAR played a pivotal role in altering the game’s outcome, resulting in two penalties and a disallowed goal.

Of the three interventions, the validity of the Rangers penalty remains the most debatable.