Derek McInnes will begin his Rangers tenure without a touchline presence for the first three domestic games after the Scottish FA handed him a four-match ban, with one match suspended, over remarks he made while in charge at Hearts. It is a significant early setback for the 55-year-old, and it means his new side will have to manage the opening weeks without their manager in the dugout.
The punishment is tied to comments McInnes made after Hearts’ 3-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle Park on the second last game of the season. The wider controversy came the same weekend Celtic were awarded a late penalty for handball against Motherwell and won with the last kick, with the decision involving John Beaton and video assistant Andrew Dallas. McInnes later criticised the call, and the Scottish FA issued a notice of complaint before finding him in breach of disciplinary rule 72.
What McInnes said, and why the case grew
McInnes’ remarks were strongly worded. He described the decision as “actually quite disgusting” and also said: “I shouldn't be commenting on another game, but having seen that, it feels like us against everybody.” That language was enough to bring the complaint, even though the comments came before he became Rangers manager.
The case also sits alongside the punishment given to Elliot Watt, who received a four-match ban and helped bring further attention to the same incident after saying it was the “worst VAR decision in history”. Motherwell were fined in relation to the same post-match criticism, underlining how seriously the Scottish FA viewed the fallout.
Which Rangers matches will he miss?
McInnes will miss Rangers’ season opener at Dundee United on July 31, which was already flagged as a possible issue in advance. He will also be absent for the Premiership match against Hibernian at Ibrox, as well as the League Cup second-round tie on the weekend of August 15/16. If Rangers were hoping for a clean and settled start, this makes the first run of domestic fixtures more complicated.
The broader point is that this is not a ban for something he has said as Rangers manager, but it still lands at exactly the wrong moment. A new job always brings pressure, and the opening weeks are usually where a manager tries to set standards, build rhythm and make his presence felt. For McInnes, that process now begins from the stands rather than the technical area.
It also leaves Rangers having to manage early momentum without the man appointed to drive it. That matters in any season, but especially when expectations are high from day one. The next question is how quickly McInnes can turn this frustration into focus once his suspension is served, with the early fixtures likely to shape the mood around his start at Ibrox and beyond.
