McInnes touchline suspension cut to two games after successful appeal

Rangers manager Derek McInnes had a touchline ban reduced to two matches, with two matches suspended, on 31 August 2026 after an appeal over comments he made in a television interview about a last-gasp Celtic penalty.

The 55-year-old will be in the stands for Wednesday’s visit to Falkirk and Saturday’s home match against Motherwell after the sanction was altered; the original penalty had been a four-match touchline ban, with one suspended, issued in July and linked to his spell as Hearts boss last season. McInnes described the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May as "disgusting", adding "we are up against everybody" when the incident was first discussed.

The stoppage-time penalty in question was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho as Celtic secured a 3-2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May. That result left Celtic one point behind Hearts, with Hearts beating them to the title three days later in a final-day decider.

When Rangers announced their intention to contest the ban they argued McInnes' remarks were "directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials". The club's July statement added: "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."

McInnes defended his comments at the time, saying: "I've never wanted to make it personal. For me, the decision was wrong." He also told reporters: "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."

Speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle on the same night as Celtic's win at Fir Park, 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. 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 later backed the decision to award the penalty, citing "clear evidence" of Motherwell's Sam Nicholson's hand and arm "in an unnatural position" and saying the resulting contact was "a punishable handball".

McInnes is due to return to the dugout when the rescheduled visit of St Mirren to Ibrox takes place on 9 September.