Derek McInnes has insisted he will appeal his Scottish FA punishment after being handed a three-game ban — with one match suspended — for comments he made about a stoppage-time penalty decision. The remarks were made while McInnes was in charge of Hearts, following a spot-kick for handball that was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Rangers, where McInnes has since taken charge, argue the comments were “directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials.” The club also contends that McInnes’s “concerns were widely shared by other commentators across the UK” and that “similar language has previously been used in Scottish football by others with lesser disciplinary action or without any action at all.”
Speaking after a friendly victory over St Etienne at Ibrox, McInnes made clear his displeasure with the ruling. “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 said. “I’ve been a manager for 19 years and you know you’re going to be asked about contentious decisions. I’ve never wanted to make it personal. For me, the decision was wrong.” He also raised concerns about the broader implications for managers speaking to the media: “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 really check themselves before answering a question.”
The original remarks were made to Sky Sports after a Hearts win against Falkirk at Tynecastle, on the same night Celtic won at Fir Park. McInnes had said: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th-minute penalty that was going to VAR, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty. Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick.” The match at Fir Park later became the subject of a police matter after referee John Beaton’s contact details were posted online, with police placing his home under surveillance. A teenager was subsequently charged in connection with a data protection offence.
If the appeal fails and the ban is upheld, McInnes will be absent from the dugout when Rangers open their Scottish Premiership campaign away to Dundee United on 31 July, their following home league fixture against Hibernian, and a League Cup tie on the weekend of 15 or 16 August.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
