With eight players booked and one member of staff shown a yellow, it might be expected John Beaton had a tough task to keep things under control at Celtic Park.

However, in reality, it was a fairly straight forward afternoon for the experienced official in the first meeting between Celtic and Rangers this season.

After an early goal from Kyogo Furuhashi was chopped off for offside after a VAR check, Beaton had little to do other than deciding when to play advantage and when to reach for his pocket.

There were no real flashpoints or controversy and Beaton managed the game pretty comfortably while doing his best to let the match flow without allowing things to boil over.

Kyogo goal ruled out

VAR intervened to rule out Kyogo Furuhashi's strike at Celtic Park with replays showing Nicolas Kuhn was offside.

Callum McGregor's ball through to Kuhn saw the winger marginally offside with John Souttar the defender most deep. 

After initial celebrations, the goal was quickly chopped off by the VAR offside system.

All John Beaton had to do was signal for the goal to be ruled out with the correct decision reached without major issue.

Yellow card for Jefte 

John Beaton had kept his cards in his pocket in the early knocking but booked Jefte after 19 minutes.

It was a soft yellow card for the Rangers defender with the referee clearly signalling it was a fourth foul - perhaps Jefte being punished for an accumulation of fouls by his side rather than for the severity of the silly tackle or multiple fouls himself.

Mohamed Diomande and Alistair Johnston booked

The yellow card was then back out seconds later with Diomande and Johnston booked for a coming together.

The pair were embroiled in a nonsense moment with the two ending up on the deck at the sideline.

A yellow was perhaps harsh for the pair but they both looked as involved as one another in the daft spat so neither could complain with equal punishment. A talking to for both players would likely have sufficed.

Alex Rae picked up a booking for his reaction to the flashpoint.

Dujon Sterling booked

The Rangers midfielder could have little complaints for the yellow card after bundling down Kyogo Furuhashi off the ball.

Sterling just bumped Kyogo after the striker had played out wide to Kuhn but warranted a booking for the cynical foul.

Beaton played advantage as Reo Hatate went close for Celtic before seeking out Sterling to issue the booking.

Cyriel Dessers booked

The Rangers striker found himself added to the list of booked players after protesting for a foul to Beaton.

Dessers appeared to take a bump contesting for a ball but it was not a foul.

Under new guidance, only captains are to speak to referees over incidents so by the letter of the law a yellow card for dissent was probably technically the correct call.

Tom Lawrence booked

The Ibrox midfielder was next in the book as he blocked off Arne Engels.

The ball had been played away when Lawrence blocked off Engels.

A booking was probably about right but the yellow could have been avoided.

Nico Kuhn booked

An obvious booking for Kuhn for a similar challenge to Jefte in the first half. 

The Brazilian had surged past Kuhn but was brought down by the Celtic winger for a yellow.

Penalty appeal

Celtic players and supporters demanded a penalty in the 74th minute for a possible handball then foul in the box.

James Forrest's strike was blocked by Souttar before the winger was left in a heap by a challenge.
Beaton was unmoved and VAR agreed that no penalty should be awarded.

Souttar's arms were by his side and the following challenge was a good one - the correct decision. 

Greg Taylor and Arne Engels booked

Another caution was produced in the 89th minute with Taylor shown a yellow for blocking off an opponent.

In stoppage time, Engels saw a yellow on his debut, another fair decision from Beaton.