Derek McInnes saw his immediate suspension from the touchline trimmed after Rangers lodged an appeal with the Scottish Football Association. The 55‑year‑old manager had originally been slapped with a four‑match ban, three of which were to be served straight away. The appeal succeeded in cutting the number of matches he must sit out now to two, with the remaining two fixtures only coming into effect if he commits another breach of disciplinary rule 72 before the season concludes.
Rule 72 covers conduct that either (i) attacks the integrity or competence of any match official, suggesting bias or ineptitude, or (ii) makes personal attacks on an official that impinge upon their character. McInnes’s comment fell squarely within this framework after he labelled a penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell in May as "disgusting". The remark sparked a heated debate about VAR decisions and prompted the SFA to act. The first match McInnes will be allowed to attend in the stands is the Wednesday away game at Falkirk, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
He will then be back on the bench for the Saturday home clash with Motherwell at Ibrox. Following those fixtures, the manager is set to return to the touchline for the league encounter with St Mirren the following Wednesday.
The schedule then builds toward the season’s marquee Old Firm meetings: a League Cup tie at Celtic on 13 September and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both televised by Sky Sports. Rangers supporters can stream the Scottish Premiership via NOW, and the league’s matches continue to be shown live on Sky Sports throughout the campaign.
McInnes’s tenure at Rangers has been anything but smooth. After a promising start, his side were eliminated from European competition after defeats in both the Europa League and the Conference League. Domestically, his first league victory came at Aberdeen, leaving Rangers five points adrift of Celtic after three games.
The early setbacks have placed added pressure on the manager to deliver results and restore confidence among the fan base. The background to the controversial penalty dates back to May, when McInnes was still the head coach of Hearts. In that season’s penultimate league match, Hearts faced Falkirk and were poised to claim the title. Simultaneously, Celtic were locked in a tight battle with Motherwell at Fir Park.
Hearts were three points clear and held a superior goal difference, meaning a draw or win for Celtic would keep the title race alive. In stoppage time, VAR intervened after a handball by Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson, awarding Celtic a spot‑kick. The penalty was converted, narrowing the gap to a single point. McInnes described the decision as "disgusting", a phrase that quickly spread across social media and intensified the scrutiny on VAR’s role in Scottish football.
Celtic ultimately clinched the championship on the final day, denying Hearts a historic first top‑flight title in 66 years. The fallout from the incident extended beyond McInnes; former Motherwell player Elliot Watt received a four‑match suspension for calling the penalty "the worst VAR decision in history", and Motherwell were fined £5,000 for a related social media post. The reduced ban means McInnes will miss only two immediate fixtures, but the conditional nature of the remaining two matches serves as a warning.
Any further comments that could be interpreted as questioning the impartiality or competence of match officials could trigger the activation of the suspended portion of his punishment. This underscores the SFA’s commitment to protecting officials from public vilification while still allowing managers to express legitimate tactical frustrations within defined limits.
Looking ahead, Rangers have a packed calendar. After the Falkirk and Motherwell games, the team will face St Mirren before the high‑stakes Old Firm encounters. The League Cup tie at Celtic on 13 September offers an early chance for silverware, while the subsequent Premiership clash at Celtic Park will be a crucial test of Rangers’ form and McInnes’s ability to rally his squad under pressure.
For fans eager to follow every development, the Scottish Premiership remains accessible through Sky Sports and streaming platforms like NOW. The league’s continued broadcast partnership ensures that even those without traditional cable can keep up with live action, analysis, and post‑match commentary. In summary, Derek McInnes’s touchline ban has been partially lifted after a successful Rangers appeal, reducing his immediate absence to two matches. The decision stems from his "disgusting" remark about a late VAR‑awarded penalty, a comment that breached SFA disciplinary rule 72.
While the reduced sanction offers some relief, the conditional two‑match suspension looms if he repeats similar conduct. As Rangers navigate a challenging start to the season, the manager’s focus will be on turning early setbacks into positive results, especially in the upcoming high‑profile fixtures against Celtic and other league rivals.