Rangers boss McInnes has touchline ban cut after appeal over Celtic penalty remarks

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has successfully appealed a touchline ban, reducing it from four matches to two, with a further two games suspended. The punishment stemmed from remarks the 55-year-old made during a television interview last season while he was manager of Hearts.

In May, Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time penalty for handball during their match against Motherwell, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to secure a 3-2 win. The result left Hearts just one point behind Celtic, who went on to clinch the league title three days later by beating Hearts on the final day of the season. Following the Motherwell match, McInnes described the penalty decision as "disgusting" and said his side felt they were "up against everybody."

The appeal

When announcing their intention to challenge the ban, Rangers argued that McInnes' comments were directed specifically at the penalty decision itself, rather than amounting to broader criticism of match officials in general. McInnes himself said he never intended to make the matter personal and maintained that the decision had simply been wrong. He also pointed out that broadcasters pay significant sums for managers' post-match reactions, warning against creating an environment where managers and players feel they must overly guard their words.

Under the revised punishment, McInnes will be absent from the touchline for Wednesday's away fixture against Falkirk and Saturday's home game against Motherwell. He is set to return to the dugout on 9 September for the rescheduled match against St Mirren at Ibrox.