McInnes may watch first Old Firm from the stand after 31 August appeal hearing

Derek McInnes could be in the stand for his first Old Firm match as Rangers manager after a hearing date of 31 August was set for his appeal against a four-match touchline ban, one game of which is suspended. McInnes has remained in the dugout at matches since the start of the season while the appeal is in process.

The July penalty related to comments McInnes made during his final season as Hearts boss about the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May, which he described as "disgusting". A stoppage-time spot-kick for handball was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho and Celtic's 3-2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May kept them one point behind Hearts, who they beat to the title a few days later in a final-day decider. Rangers said when they announced their intention to contest the ban that the remarks were "directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials".

Commenting on the ban, McInnes said: "I don't agree with it and the club don't agree with it. I'm glad that we're going to appeal against that." He added: "I've been a manager for 19 years and you know you're going to be asked about contentious decisions and all the rest of it. "I've never wanted to make it personal. For me, the decision was wrong. I feel as though I made my points at the hearing. "Broadcasters pay a lot of money to hear managers' reactions. We've got to be careful that we don't have managers and players who have to be really sure of themselves and check themselves before answering a question. "At no point was I wanting to inflame a situation. The situation was already being discussed before I did my Press. It was quite a big moment in the season and there was a lot of emotion, but I felt as though what I said was controlled."

Speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle on the same night as Celtic's win at Fir Park, McInnes described the penalty decision in detail: "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. It is. I don't think it's a penalty kick. "But we're up against it. We're up against everybody."

Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum supported the original decision, citing "clear evidence" of Motherwell's Sam Nicholson's hand and arm "in an unnatural position" and the resulting contact "a punishable handball". Following the match, referee John Beaton's contact details were posted online, police kept his home under surveillance and a teenager was then charged "in connection with a data protection offence".

Rangers issued a statement defending the right to scrutinise decisions, saying: "Respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny are not competing principles. "Managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is serious about raising standards and maintaining trust. "Scrutiny, transparency and accountability should be seen as part of improving standards, not as a threat to them."

The potential impact of the appeal on McInnes' matchday role is immediate: the fixtures listed while the appeal is outstanding include Falkirk away on 2 September and Motherwell at home three days later in the Scottish Premiership, with the 13 September visit of Celtic scheduled as a quarter-final tie in the League Cup.