Rangers manager Derek McInnes says he stands by the club’s decision to appeal the four-match touchline ban he received. The punishment came after he called a late penalty call against Celtic ‘disgusting’ during a game at Motherwell.
What Happened During the Match?
The trouble started when referees awarded Celtic a penalty in the final minutes of the match at Motherwell. McInnes was furious and used strong language to criticize the decision. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) later gave him a four-match touchline ban for his outburst.
- The penalty helped Celtic win the game late.
- McInnes said the call was unfair and hurt his team’s chances.
- A disciplinary panel found his comments broke the rules.
Why the Club Is Fighting the Ban
McInnes believes the ban is too harsh and that he has the right to speak out about refereeing mistakes. Rangers have filed an appeal to try to reduce or cancel the punishment. The manager says having the club’s full support gives him confidence.
He also noted that other managers have criticized officials without facing such a long ban. The appeal will be heard by an independent panel in the coming weeks.
What This Means for Rangers
If the ban stands, McInnes will miss four important matches from the sidelines. That could hurt the team’s performance during a tight league race. But for now, the manager is focused on preparing his players and trusting the appeal process.
Fans are split—some say he deserved the ban, while others think the punishment went too far. Either way, the case highlights the ongoing debate about how much managers can say about referees.