Derek McInnes, currently managing Rangers, will be absent from the touchline for the start of the season. He has received a four-match ban—with one game suspended—after describing a late penalty awarded to Celtic at Motherwell as “disgusting.”
These remarks were made at the conclusion of the previous season when McInnes was the manager of Hearts. The penalty in question occurred during stoppage time at Fir Park, leading to a 2-1 Celtic win that kept them in close contention for the title against Hearts. Following the match, McInnes publicly stated that he assumed Celtic would receive the penalty once the decision went to VAR, calling the eventual ruling “disgusting” and suggesting that he and his team were facing opposition from all sides.
The controversy surrounding the decision grew significantly, with referee John Beaton facing harassment that necessitated police monitoring of his home. An SFA investigation later supported the official’s decision, with Willie Collum, head of referees, noting that the player’s arm was in an unnatural position. Other parties faced disciplinary action as well: Motherwell was fined £5,000 for their social media commentary, and former player Elliott Watt was handed a four-match suspension for calling the call the worst VAR decision in history.
The Scottish FA cited rule 72, which prohibits club officials from criticizing match officials in a manner that implies bias or incompetence. McInnes’s suspended portion of the ban will remain active until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
