Rangers’ Derek McInnes Faces Four-Match Ban Over Controversial Comments
Rangers manager Derek McInnes will start the season in the stands after the Scottish Football Association imposed a four-match suspension due to comments he made on a controversial penalty awarded to Celtic at Motherwell last season.
McInnes, who was managing Hearts at the time, labeled the VAR decision that granted Celtic a stoppage-time penalty as “disgusting,” a call that significantly influenced the Scottish Premiership title race.
On Wednesday, the SFA confirmed that McInnes would face a four-match ban, with one match suspended until the end of the season.
In their penultimate game of the Premiership season, McInnes watched as the Jambos defeated Falkirk 3-0, a result that left them needing to avoid a three-goal loss at Parkhead to clinch the title for the first time since 1960.
However, the situation shifted later that evening when referee John Beaton, aided by VAR official Andrew Dallas, awarded a late penalty to Celtic at Fir Park.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored, securing a 3-2 victory for Celtic, meaning Martin O’Neill’s side only needed a win on the final day to retain the title, which they achieved with another late goal.
After the victory over Falkirk, McInnes reiterated his view on the penalty decision, leading to a charge for breaching rule 72 of the SFA disciplinary guidelines and receiving an official notice of complaint.
A hearing held at Hampden on Wednesday established that the charge was valid, resulting in McInnes being handed a four-match suspension, with one match suspended until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Rangers are set to kick off their league season with an away match against Dundee United next Friday, during which McInnes will be prohibited from the touchline, impacting subsequent home games against Hibernian and St Mirren.
The Rangers club announced they will appeal the suspension, stating, “We do not believe Derek’s view on a match-defining decision amounted to an attack on the competence or integrity of match officials. His comments were directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials. Considered fairly and in context, Derek’s comments did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty.”
They further pointed out that his concerns were shared by other commentators across the UK. The Scottish FA’s independent Key Match Incident Panel later concluded that the original referee’s decision was correct and VAR’s intervention was unjustified.
Rangers also highlighted that similar language has been used by other figures in Scottish football without serious repercussions, raising questions about consistency and the application of disciplinary rules.
The club emphasized that respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny of decisions should coexist, allowing managers, players, and teams to discuss significant decisions openly to enhance standards and maintain trust in Scottish football.
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Notably, former Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt received a four-match suspension for describing the same VAR incident as “the worst VAR decision in history” through his X account. Watt, currently with Turkish club Samsunspor, also faced charges under the SFA’s disciplinary rule 72 concerning criticism of officials.