Rangers hope Derek McInnes will be available to lead the team from the dugout for his first Premiership match in charge against Dundee United on Friday night after the club appealed his three-match suspension.
The punishment was handed down last week and stems from comments McInnes made in May while he was still in charge of Hearts. At Fir Park, McInnes described referee John Beaton’s decision to award Celtic a controversial penalty as “quite disgusting”, a remark that led to disciplinary action under Rule 72.
Why Rangers are challenging the ban
Rangers confirmed last week that they would appeal the decision, arguing that McInnes was reacting to a specific match-defining incident rather than attacking the competence or integrity of match officials. In their view, his comments were directed at the decision itself and did not amount to a broader criticism of referees.
The club also said the remarks should be considered fairly and in context, and that they did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty. Rangers added that similar language has been used elsewhere in Scottish football with lesser disciplinary action or no action at all, which they believe raises questions about consistency and precedent.
What happens next
The appeal matters because it could determine whether McInnes is in the technical area at Tannadice for the Dundee United match at the end of the week. If the suspension stands, he will miss the chance to oversee his first league game as Rangers boss from the sideline.
McInnes was also given a one-game suspended sentence, meaning the wider case is not over even after the immediate appeal. Several weeks later, the date for a second hearing is expected to be set, and McInnes could head to Hampden to put forward his case.
For now, Rangers are waiting on the outcome. The timing is the key issue, because this is not just a disciplinary story in the abstract; it is about whether the club’s new manager can be in place for his first Premiership test in charge.
