Rangers brace for McInnes ban over 'disgusting' penalty comment
Rangers manager Derek McInnes described the decision to award Celtic a stoppage‑time penalty at Motherwell in May as “disgusting”, after Kelechi Iheanacho converted the spot‑kick in Celtic’s 3‑2 win at Fir Park on 13 May. The remark triggered a four‑match touchline ban from the Scottish FA.
The remarks were made at the end of the previous season when Derek McInnes was in charge of Hearts. They referred to a stoppage‑time spot‑kick for handball that Kelechi Iheanacho converted. McInnes said, "When you heard Celtic got a 96th‑minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what's happened is they get the penalty. Having seen it again, it's disgusting. I don't think it's a penalty kick."
Celtic's 3‑2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May kept them one point behind Hearts. Hearts later beat Celtic in a final‑day decider to clinch the title.
Rangers have announced they will contest the four‑match touchline ban. The club says the comments were directed at the decision, not at officials, and notes that similar language has previously attracted lesser or no disciplinary action.
The Scottish FA imposed an immediate three‑game ban with one match suspended until the end of the season. The sanction applies to Rangers' opening Scottish Premiership away fixture at Dundee United on 31 July, the subsequent home game against Hibernian and a League Cup tie on the weekend of 15/16 August, but does not cover the Europa League qualifier against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Following the incident, referee John Beaton's contact details were posted online, leading to a teenager being charged with a data‑protection offence. SFA head of referees Willie Collum backed the decision, citing clear evidence of an unnatural handball. Motherwell and former midfielder Elliott Watt, now at Samsunspor, were also sanctioned – Watt received a four‑match suspension and Motherwell were fined £5,000 for a related video.
Rangers concluded that respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny are not competing principles, stating that managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is to raise standards and maintain trust.
The ban means McInnes will be absent from the touchline for Rangers' first three league games, a period that could influence the club's early season momentum while the appeal process proceeds.