Rangers Manager Derek McInnes Has Touchline Ban Reduced on Appeal

Rangers manager Derek McInnes will serve a two-match touchline ban after an appeal reduced the punishment imposed over his comments about a late Celtic penalty. BBC Sport reported that two further matches are suspended, changing an original sanction of four games with one suspended that was announced in July.

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The disciplinary case relates to remarks McInnes made last season while he was manager of Hearts. After Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time handball penalty at Motherwell on 13 May, he called the decision wrong and said Hearts were facing opposition from everyone. The spot-kick was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho to complete Celtic's 3-2 victory.

That result kept Celtic one point behind Hearts before the sides met in a final-day title decider three days later. Celtic won that match to take the championship, giving the disputed penalty and McInnes' response added significance at the end of the Scottish season.

Rangers appealed after McInnes became their manager, arguing that his criticism was aimed at the specific penalty decision rather than match officials more generally. The club said honest scrutiny of major decisions and respect for officials should be able to coexist. McInnes also maintained that he had not intended to make the issue personal or inflame the situation. At the time, he said managers are asked to react immediately to major incidents and should still be able to answer questions candidly.

Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum later supported the original handball call. According to BBC Sport's report, Collum said Motherwell player Sam Nicholson's hand and arm were in an unnatural position and that the contact therefore amounted to punishable handball.

The revised ban means McInnes will watch Rangers' visit to Falkirk on Wednesday and their home match against Motherwell on Saturday from the stands. He is scheduled to return to the dugout when Rangers host St Mirren at Ibrox on 9 September. BBC Sport noted that McInnes, 55, had remained on the touchline for four domestic matches after the initial ban was announced while the appeal process continued.