NafisaRangers have officially confirmed they will appeal the four-match touchline ban handed to manager Derek McInnes, launching a fierce defence of their new boss after the Scottish FA punished him for comments made following last season’s controversial Celtic penalty against Motherwell.
The Ibrox club have strongly criticised both the decision and the consistency of the disciplinary process, insisting McInnes was merely expressing his opinion on a major match-defining incident rather than questioning the integrity of Scottish referees.
McInnes received a four-match suspension, with one game suspended, after describing the VAR intervention that awarded Celtic a dramatic late penalty against Motherwell as “disgusting” while he was Hearts manager.
Unless Rangers’ appeal succeeds, the 55-year-old will miss Rangers’ Premiership opener against Dundee United, the clash with Hibernian and their League Cup second-round fixture.
However, Rangers have made it clear they believe the punishment is both excessive and inconsistent with previous cases.
In a strongly-worded official statement, the club announced it would challenge the ruling and questioned why similar comments made by others in Scottish football have attracted lesser punishments—or none at all.
The statement read: “Rangers will appeal the sanction imposed on Derek McInnes by the Scottish FA for comments made last season.
“We do not believe Derek’s view on a match-defining decision amounted to an attack on the competence or integrity of match officials.
“His comments were directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials. Considered fairly and in context, Derek’s comments did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty.
“His concerns were widely shared by other commentators across the UK. The Scottish FA’s independent Key Match Incident Panel subsequently concluded that the referee’s original decision was correct and that VAR should not have intervened.
“Similar language has previously been used in Scottish football by others with lesser disciplinary action or without any action at all, raising legitimate questions about consistency, precedent and the application of the rules.
“Although the comments pre-dated Derek’s appointment, the club believes the issue at stake is important and must be challenged.
“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 controversy stems from the closing stages of last season’s Premiership title race when Celtic were awarded a highly contentious stoppage-time penalty against Motherwell after a VAR review.
Reacting at the time, McInnes did not hide his frustration.
He 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.”
Rangers will now hope the appeal overturns the punishment before the new domestic campaign begins, with the club making it clear they believe managers should be free to question controversial decisions without facing severe disciplinary action.
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