McInnes could be in stand for first Old Firm game

WHAT HAPPENED
Rangers manager Derek McInnes may be able to watch his side’s first Old Firm meeting from the stand after the Scottish FA set an appeal hearing for 31 August over a four-match touchline ban, one of which is suspended. The sanction stems from comments McInnes made while he was Hearts manager about a late penalty awarded to Celtic at Motherwell in May.

McInnes has remained in the dugout at the start of the season while the ban is being contested. If the appeal process allows, he could therefore attend the fixtures against Falkirk (2 September), Motherwell (5 September) and Celtic (13 September) in the stand rather than being absent from matchday involvement.

KEY CONTEXT
The original penalty decision at Fir Park on 13 May was a stoppage-time handball call that led to Kelechi Iheanacho converting and Celtic winning 3-2. That result kept Celtic one point behind Hearts before Celtic later overtook Hearts to win the title on the final day. McInnes labelled the penalty decision “disgusting” at the time, prompting the disciplinary action issued in July.

The Scottish FA’s head of referees, Willie Collum, later supported the on-field decision, saying there was clear evidence of Sam Nicholson’s hand and arm being in an unnatural position and that the contact was punishable under handball laws. Following the match, referee John Beaton’s contact details were posted online, police provided surveillance at his home, and a teenager was charged in relation to a data protection offence.

WHY IT MATTERS
The appeal outcome will determine whether McInnes can be present in the technical area for key early-season domestic fixtures, including a high-profile League Cup quarter-final against Celtic. The case highlights tensions between managers’ public criticism of refereeing decisions and governing-body discipline, and raises wider questions about how scrutiny of officials is balanced with respect and safety concerns.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- The appeal hearing on 31 August is the immediate next step and will decide whether the ban stands, is reduced, or overturned.
- Pending that decision, McInnes’s presence at the dugout or in the stand for the matches on 2, 5 and 13 September remains unresolved.
- Any further disciplinary follow-up or statements from the Scottish FA, Rangers or McInnes after the hearing will clarify the club’s options and any operational changes for matchdays.

KEY FACTS
- Hearing date for McInnes’s appeal set for 31 August.
- Four-match touchline ban was imposed in July; one match of it is suspended.
- The sanction relates to comments about a late penalty awarded to Celtic at Motherwell on 13 May.
- Celtic won that match 3-2 with a spot-kick by Kelechi Iheanacho; the result kept them close to Hearts in the title race.
- Willie Collum backed the handball decision; a teenager was later charged over a data protection offence linked to the referee.