Rangers appeal McInnes ban as VAR scrutiny clash escalates
Rangers have lodged an appeal against a touchline ban for new manager Derek McInnes, spotlighting a growing tension between football authorities and clubs over the right to criticise VAR decisions.
Derek McInnes has been handed a four-match touchline ban, with one game suspended, by the Scottish Football Association. The sanction, which stems from his time as head coach of Hearts, means the new Rangers manager will begin his tenure in the stands.
Rangers confirmed they will appeal the punishment. McInnes is set to miss his first competitive match in charge at Dundee United on July 31, followed by a home game against Hibernian and a League Cup tie in mid-August.
A title race decided by VAR
The charges relate to comments made after a pivotal match on the penultimate weekend of last season. Hearts were in a tight title race with Celtic when a last-minute penalty, awarded after a VAR review for a handball against Sam Nicholson, denied McInnes's side the chance to clinch the championship. Hearts ultimately lost the title on the final day.
McInnes described the decision as "actually quite disgusting" and stated it felt like "us against everybody." The SFA found these remarks breached disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits comments implying bias or incompetence by match officials.
The credibility question
The case highlights a deeper friction in Scottish football regarding the transparency of video assistant refereeing. Rangers argued in a statement that McInnes targeted a specific decision rather than the integrity of the officials. The club noted that the SFA's own independent Key Match Incident Panel later concluded the referee's original call was correct and that VAR should not have intervened.
"Managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is serious about raising standards and maintaining trust," the Rangers statement read. The club also pointed to a lack of consistency, noting similar language by others had previously gone unpunished.
The SFA's strict enforcement extends beyond managers. Last week, former Motherwell player Elliot Watt received a four-match ban for calling the same penalty the "worst VAR decision in history" on social media. Motherwell were also fined £5,000 for a related social media post.
As the Scottish Premiership prepares for a new season heavily broadcast by Sky Sports, the appeal will test whether clubs can challenge officiating standards without facing immediate punitive measures.
