Derek McInnes saw his immediate touchline suspension 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. While the total length of the sanction remains unchanged, the appeal succeeded in altering the timing: only two of the matches will now be served immediately, and the remaining two will only be activated if McInnes breaches disciplinary rule 72 again before the season concludes.
Rule 72 of the SFA’s code states that it is an offence to (i) publicly criticise the decisions or performances of any match official in a manner that suggests bias or incompetence, or (ii) make personal remarks that impugn the character of an official. McInnes’s comment fell squarely within this provision.
He had called the penalty awarded to Celtic in their May clash with Motherwell "disgusting," echoing a similar outburst from his former club, Hearts, when their own title hopes were jeopardised by a late spot‑kick. The first fixture 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 touchline for the Saturday match at Ibrox against Motherwell. After serving those two immediate games, he is set to return to his managerial duties for the league encounter with St Mirren the following Wednesday.
The calendar then leads to the high‑profile Old Firm meetings: a League Cup tie at Celtic on 13 September, followed a week later by a Premiership clash at Celtic Park, both of which will also be shown on Sky Sports. McInnes’s tenure at Rangers has been anything but smooth. Early in his spell the club were eliminated from European competition, first dropping out of the Europa League and then succumbing in the Conference League. Domestically, his first Premiership victory came only on the weekend against Aberdeen, leaving Rangers five points adrift of Celtic after three league games.
The backdrop to McInnes’s controversial remark dates back to the final stages of the 2022‑23 season. At that time, McInnes was still the head coach of Hearts. In the penultimate league round, Hearts beat Falkirk and were poised to overtake Celtic, who were then playing Motherwell.
A win for Hearts combined with a favourable result for Celtic would have seen the Edinburgh side finish three points clear at the summit, with a superior goal difference. However, in stoppage time at Fir Park, VAR intervened to award Celtic a penalty after a handball by Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson was detected. The spot‑kick was converted, narrowing the gap between the two clubs to a single point.
McInnes described the VAR decision as "disgusting," a sentiment that resonated with many Hearts supporters who felt the call had robbed them of a historic league title – their first in 66 years. Celtic went on to win their final match, sealing the championship and leaving Hearts in second place. The fallout from that episode extended beyond the immediate disappointment. Former Motherwell player Elliot Watt received a four‑match ban from the SFA for branding the same penalty the "worst VAR decision in history." Motherwell themselves were fined £5,000 after posting a critical message on their official social media channels regarding the incident.
In the wake of McInnes’s own comment, the Scottish FA upheld the principle that officials must be protected from public attacks that question their integrity or competence. By reducing the immediate portion of the ban, the governing body signalled that while the original sanction was appropriate, there was room for leniency provided the manager refrains from further infractions. Looking ahead, Rangers have a packed schedule.
After the Falkirk and Motherwell fixtures, the team will travel to face St Mirren, then prepare for the double‑header against Celtic in both cup and league formats. The club will be keen to see McInnes back on the touchline, especially as they aim to close the gap on the league leaders and revive their European ambitions. Fans can catch all of Rangers’ Premiership action live on Sky Sports, and the league is also available for streaming through the NOW platform.
The Scottish Premiership continues to draw a global audience, with the Old Firm rivalry remaining one of the sport’s most watched spectacles. In summary, Derek McInnes’s ban has been partially lifted following Rangers’ successful appeal. He will serve two immediate matches on the sidelines, with the remaining two contingent on any further breaches of disciplinary rule 72.
The episode underscores the delicate balance between passionate commentary and respect for officiating, a debate that has been amplified by recent VAR controversies across Scottish football.