Rangers manager McInnes receives four-match ban for penalty remarks
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been issued a four-match touchline ban following comments he made about a penalty decision involving Celtic last season. The ban, which includes an immediate three-game suspension and one game suspended until the end of the season, stems from remarks McInnes made while he was manager of Hearts.
McInnes described a late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell in May as “disgusting.” This decision, which occurred in stoppage time for a handball, was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho, contributing to Celtic’s 3-2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May. The win kept Celtic one point behind Hearts, whom they later defeated to secure the title.
Rangers plan to contest the ban, stating that McInnes’s remarks were directed at the specific decision rather than being a broader criticism of officials. The club also highlighted that similar language has been used by others in Scottish football with less severe or no disciplinary action.
Details of the ban and club’s response
The Scottish FA penalty means McInnes is expected to be in the stands for Rangers’ opening Scottish Premiership match away to Dundee United on 31 July. The ban also applies to the subsequent league game at home against Hibernian and a League Cup tie scheduled for the weekend of 15/16 August. However, the suspension does not cover the Europa League qualifier against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
McInnes made his comments to after Hearts’ win against Falkirk, stating that upon hearing about the 96th-minute penalty for Celtic, he assumed it would be given. After reviewing the incident, he reiterated his view that it was “disgusting” and not a penalty kick, adding, “But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody.”
Rangers argue that respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny are not conflicting principles. They believe that managers, players, and clubs should be able to speak honestly about major decisions to raise standards and maintain trust within Scottish football. The club views scrutiny, transparency, and accountability as integral to improving standards, not as a threat.
Previous disciplinary actions and rule 72
The penalty incident at Fir Park led to further repercussions beyond McInnes’s comments. Following the match, referee John Beaton’s contact details were posted online, prompting police surveillance of his home. A teenager was subsequently charged in connection with a data protection offence.
The Scottish FA’s head of referees, Willie Collum, supported the penalty call, citing “clear evidence” of Sam Nicholson’s hand and arm being in an “unnatural position,” resulting in a “punishable handball.”
Other individuals and clubs have also faced sanctions related to this incident. Former Motherwell midfielder Elliott Watt received a four-match suspension for describing the decision as “the worst VAR decision in history” on social media. Watt has since moved to Turkish club Samsunspor. Motherwell itself was fined £5,000 for releasing a video with a caption that suggested the football world was mocking the game.
The Scottish FA compliance officer issued complaints under disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits recognised football bodies, clubs, officials, and players from criticising match officials’ decisions or performance in a way that suggests bias or incompetence, or making remarks that impinge on their character. The hearing at Hampden found the charge against McInnes proven, leading to his four-match suspension.
The ban includes an immediate three-game suspension, with one match suspended until the end of the season.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
