Derek McInnes Faces Touchline Ban Appeal Ahead of Old Firm Match

Derek McInnes, the Rangers manager, could be sidelined for his first Old Firm match due to a hearing scheduled for August 31 regarding his appeal against a four-match touchline ban, one match of which is suspended.

The ban stems from comments made during his tenure as Hearts manager, where he criticized a late penalty awarded to Celtic in May. Rangers have argued that his remarks were aimed at the specific decision rather than a broader critique of officials.

If the ban is upheld, McInnes would miss matches against Falkirk, Motherwell, and Celtic. He expressed his disagreement with the ban, emphasizing the importance of managers being able to discuss contentious decisions openly. The Scottish FA's head of referees supported the penalty decision, citing clear evidence of a handball.