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 hit with a four‑match ban, three of which were to be served straight away.
While the overall disciplinary sanction remains in place, the appeal has altered the timing: only two of the matches will now be enforced immediately, and the remaining two will only come into effect if McInnes commits another breach of disciplinary rule 72 before the season concludes. Rule 72 specifically prohibits a manager from (i) publicly criticizing the decisions or performance of any match official in a manner that suggests bias or incompetence, or (ii) making personal attacks that impugn the character of the official. The controversy that triggered the sanction began when McInnes, who previously managed Hearts, labelled a penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell in May as "disgusting." This comment was made in the aftermath of a dramatic finish to the Scottish Premiership title race.
The first fixture McInnes will be allowed to attend as a spectator will be Rangers' trip to Falkirk on Wednesday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. He will then be back in the dugout for the home clash against Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday. Following those games, McInnes is set to return to the touchline for the league encounter with St Mirren the following Wednesday.
The schedule continues with the traditional Old Firm double‑header: a League Cup tie at Celtic on September 13 and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both of which will also be shown on Sky Sports. Rangers supporters can stream the Scottish Premiership through the NOW platform, and the league is regularly available on Sky Sports for those who prefer traditional television coverage. McInnes' tenure at Rangers has been anything but smooth. Early in his spell, the club suffered complete elimination from European competition, losing in both the Europa League and the Conference League.
Domestically, his first Premiership victory arrived with a win over Aberdeen, leaving Rangers five points behind Celtic after three league games. The backstory to the "disgusting" remark dates to May 2023, when McInnes was still at the helm of Hearts. At that time, Hearts were battling Celtic for the title, having beaten Falkirk in their penultimate league match.
Celtic, meanwhile, were playing Motherwell at Fir Park. The result of that game would determine whether Hearts could clinch the championship on the final day.
In added time, VAR intervened after a handball by Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson, awarding Celtic a penalty that was subsequently converted. The goal gave Martin O'Neill's side a 1‑0 win and narrowed the gap between the two clubs to a single point. McInnes publicly described the decision to award the spot‑kick as "disgusting," a statement that sparked a wave of criticism from the SFA.
Celtic went on to win their final match of the season, denying Hearts a first top‑flight title in 66 years. The incident also saw former Motherwell player Elliot Watt receive a four‑match ban for calling the penalty "the worst VAR decision in history," and Motherwell were fined £5,000 for a related social media post. The appeal process allowed Rangers to argue that the original sanction was overly harsh, given the context of McInnes' comment and his subsequent conduct.
The SFA's decision to reduce the immediate portion of the ban reflects a compromise: it acknowledges the seriousness of breaching disciplinary rule 72 while also recognising that the manager's remarks, though strongly worded, did not rise to the level of personal abuse directed at a specific official. Looking ahead, McInnes must tread carefully. Any further comments that could be interpreted as questioning the integrity or competence of referees could trigger the remaining two matches of his suspension. The Scottish FA has made it clear that repeat offences will be dealt with swiftly, potentially leading to longer bans or additional fines.
For Rangers fans, the reduced ban is a welcome development. It means McInnes will be back on the touchline for crucial upcoming fixtures, including the high‑stakes Old Firm clashes that often decide the trajectory of the season. The club will need to capitalize on these opportunities to close the gap on Celtic and re‑establish themselves as serious title contenders. In summary, Derek McInnes' touchline ban has been partially lifted after a successful appeal by Rangers.
He will serve two matches immediately and faces two further suspensions only if he violates rule 72 again before the season ends. The incident originated from his "disgusting" comment on a late VAR‑awarded penalty that altered the outcome of a title‑deciding game between Celtic and Motherwell, a remark that sparked a broader debate about referee accountability and the language used by managers in the modern game.