Glasgow's Rangers Football Club announced it will challenge a four-match touchline suspension handed to its new manager, Derek McInnes, after he condemned a stoppage-time penalty decision in a crucial match from last season.
The Scottish Football Association ruled that McInnes' remarks about a controversial handball call—awarded to Celtic in a 3-2 win over Motherwell—crossed a line. He had described the decision as 'actually quite disgusting' at the time.
The ban includes one suspended match to be served at the end of the 2026-27 season. Rangers, however, disputes the ruling, saying McInnes’ words did not target the integrity of match officials and were a critique of the decision itself.
The incident occurred in the penultimate game of the 2022-23 season. With Celtic and Hearts battling for the title, the Motherwell match was tied 2-2 deep into stoppage time. A video review led to the awarding of a penalty, which Celtic's Kelechi Iheanacho converted in the 99th minute.
That win set up a final-day showdown between Celtic and Hearts. Hearts needed just a draw for its first league title in 63 years but Celtic claimed a 3-1 victory.
McInnes, who took the Rangers job in June, returns to management after previous spells with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. The club faces Dundee United on July 31 to kick off the new season.