Rangers Manager Derek McInnes Banned for Criticizing Celtic Penalty Decision
Derek McInnes, newly appointed Rangers manager, received a four-match touchline ban (one suspended) from the Scottish FA for calling a late penalty awarded to Celtic “disgusting” while he was Hearts manager. The comments, made in May 2026, breached rule 72 against criticizing officials. Rangers are appealing, arguing McInnes criticized the decision, not officials’ integrity. The ban would miss matches against Dundee United, Hibernian, and St Mirren. Motherwell and ex-player Elliott Watt were also sanctioned.
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Derek McInnes to be in Rangers dugout for season opener despite SFA ban as club appeals
Derek McInnes is expected to be in the dugout for his first match as Rangers manager on Friday night at Dundee United, despite being issued a four-match ban by the Scottish FA. The ban stems from comments McInnes made in May while manager of Hearts, when he described a late penalty awarded to Celtic as 'disgusting'. Rangers have confirmed they will appeal the sanction, arguing that McInnes' comments were directed at the decision itself, not at officials' integrity, and that similar language has previously resulted in lesser or no punishment. The appeal will be lodged before Friday's deadline, allowing McInnes to manage from the touchline until a hearing takes place. The ban was for breaching disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits public criticism of match officials indicating bias or incompetence. Rangers' CEO Jim Gillespie and the club believe the ban should not stand, citing inconsistency in disciplinary application.
Derek McInnes glad of Rangers backing in appeal against four-match touchline ban
Derek McInnes, now Rangers manager, is appealing a four-match touchline ban imposed by the Scottish FA for describing as 'disgusting' a late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell in May 2026. The comments were made while McInnes was Hearts manager. Rangers issued a statement supporting the appeal, arguing the remarks were directed at the decision, not officials, and that similar language has previously received lesser punishment. McInnes insists he was controlled and not trying to inflame the situation. If the ban is upheld, he will miss Rangers' opening league matches and a League Cup tie. The incident also led to online abuse of referee John Beaton, with a teenager charged, and sanctions against Motherwell and former midfielder Elliott Watt.
New Rangers manager Derek McInnes gets four-match ban for Celtic penalty remarks
Derek McInnes, newly appointed manager of Rangers, has been handed a four-match touchline ban by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) for comments he made while manager of Hearts. McInnes described a VAR-awarded stoppage-time penalty for Celtic against Motherwell as 'disgusting', a decision that proved pivotal in the Scottish Premiership title race. The SFA found him in breach of disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits criticism of officials. The ban, with one match suspended, will see McInnes miss Rangers' opening league matches against Dundee United, Hibernian, and St Mirren. Former Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt received a similar four-match ban for his social media comments on the same incident.
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Rangers manager Derek McInnes given four-match ban for 'disgusting' Celtic penalty remark
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been handed a four-game touchline ban, with one game suspended, by the Scottish FA for describing a late penalty awarded to Celtic as 'disgusting'. The comments were made at the end of last season when McInnes was in charge of Hearts, following a stoppage-time spot-kick given for handball against Motherwell, which Celtic converted to win 2-1. That victory kept Celtic one point behind Hearts, whom they later beat to the title. McInnes criticized the decision in a post-match interview, saying 'we're up against everybody'. The SFA's compliance officer issued complaints under disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits criticism of match officials indicating bias or incompetence. The suspended ban applies if McInnes breaches the rule again before the end of the 2026-27 season. Motherwell and former midfielder Elliott Watt have also been sanctioned over related social media posts.
Rangers' Derek McInnes Handed Four-Match Touchline Ban for Criticism of Match Officials
Derek McInnes, the new Rangers manager, has been given a four-match touchline ban (one suspended) by the Scottish FA for criticizing match officials while he was head coach of Hearts. The ban stems from comments made after Hearts' late defeat to Celtic in the penultimate match of last season, where McInnes described a penalty decision as 'actually quite disgusting' and said 'it feels like us against everybody.' The suspension means McInnes will miss Rangers' season opener at Dundee United, a Premiership match against Hibernian, and a League Cup tie. The fourth match is suspended pending further conduct. The article also notes that former Motherwell player Elliot Watt received a similar ban for social media comments about the same incident, and Motherwell was fined £5,000.