Neil Lennon insists Celtic should have been awarded a penalty for a handball by Connor Goldson on Monday at Ibrox.

The Rangers defender appeared to have blocked a Carl Starfelt shot with his hands during the New Year contest, but referee John Beaton waved away appeals.

VAR assistant Willie Collum decided not to review the incident and it has since caused a stir of controversy with some pundits claiming it should have been a spot-kick.

IFAB ruling has since offered an insight into why Beaton and VAR official  Collum decided to wave play on, without a further check taking place.

From the replays, the incident looks like a clear penalty, but an IFAB "question and answer" section appears to suggest otherwise.

IFAB's answer for the situation explained: "The referee allows play to continue as the hand/arm position was the result of the player's natural (reflex) movement and did not make the body unnaturally bigger."

IFAB added: "The referee must judge each situation on its merit and the Laws of the Game clearly states that the referee must decide if the hand/arm position can be justified by the player's body movement for that particular incident.

"Referees must apply the 'spirit' of the Law and an instinctive reaction to protect the face which does not make the body unnaturally bigger is usually not penalised."

Despite this latest knowledge, former Celtic boss Lennon insists officials got the call wrong.

Speaking to Football Odds, he said: "Celtic should have had a penalty, it's a clear handball. I found it baffling that the decision wasn't given after it went to VAR. I'm not sure if the referees have explained why it wasn't given, but after seeing it a few times, it was a definite penalty.

"You can be controversial about the Rangers penalty, but Carl Starfelt really committed himself, gone to the ground. When you do a challenge like that at that pace and get it wrong, you're putting yourself in jeopardy. Starfelt was out of control."

On the game itself, Lennon added: "The Old Firm was a pivotal moment in the season, Rangers had to win the game to reduce the nine-point lead Celtic have.

"Celtic will be the happier team out of the two by getting a point away from home while not at their best too. Going into the second half of the season, you'd have to say Celtic are in a really good position for the league title."