Derek McInnes: Rangers manager banned for four games for criticizing match officials while in charge at Hearts | Football news

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Derek McInnes: Rangers manager banned for four games for criticizing match officials while in charge at Hearts | Football news

Derek McInnes has been banned from the touchline in his first three home games as Rangers manager for his criticism of match officials.

He was given a four-match ban, one of which was suspended, for the words he said after Motherwell’s defeat by Celtic towards the end of penalties last season when he was Hearts coach.

The vigilantes are set to oppose the imposed sanctions.

McInnes criticized the penalty decision which led to Celtic winning the last leg of the game. Hearts were in contention for the Scottish Premier League title with Celtic at the time, losing on the final day of the season to their title rivals.

He described referee John Beaton’s decision to award a handball penalty against Sam Nicholson – on the advice of video assistant Andrew Dallas – as “absolutely disgusting”.

He added: “I shouldn’t be commenting on another game, but I’ve seen that, it feels like we’re up against everyone.”

A statement from Rangers read: “We do not believe that Derek’s opinion on a game-defining decision is tantamount to attacking the authority or integrity of the game officials.”

“His comments were directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials. Viewed properly and in context, Derek’s comments did not reveal bias, incompetence or dishonesty.”

The decision means the 55-year-old will be in the headlines at Rangers’ first game at Dundee United on July 31, live on Sky Sports.

He will also be out of action for their Premiership clash with Hibernian at Ibrox and the second round of the League Cup on the weekend of August 15/16.

The fourth game suspension will only be applied if he commits the same offense again before the end of the new season.

It comes a week after former Motherwell player Elliot Watt was handed a four-match ban by the Scottish FA for describing Celtic’s penalty as “the worst decision in VAR history” on social media.

The Fir Park club were fined £5,000 after posting on social media following the game.

Both were also charged with breaching disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits criticism that shows “bias or incompetence” of the game’s administrators or abuse of their actors.

Rangers statement in full: ‘Managers must be able to speak honestly’

“We do not believe that Derek’s opinion on the game-defining decision is tantamount to attacking the ability or integrity of the game’s management.

“His concerns were echoed by other commentators across the UK. The Scottish FA’s independent Key Match Incident Panel then concluded that the referee’s initial decision was correct and that VAR should not have intervened.

“Similar language has been used in Scottish football by some with impunity or without action, raising legitimate questions about the consistency, basis and application of the rules.

“Although the comments preceded the appointment of Derek, the club believes that the issue at stake is important and must be challenged.

“Respect for officials and due diligence are not competing principles.

“Managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is to raise the standard and maintain trust.

“Scrutiny, transparency and accountability should be seen as part of improving standards, not as a threat to them.”

McInnes unhappy with penalty that set up ‘winner-take-all clash’

Luke Shanley’s Sky Sports News:

“This is about disciplinary rule 72 which states that no head coach should criticize the referee’s game.

“You go back to the second last game of the season and Hearts won 3-0 against Falkirk at Tynecastle Park which put Hearts in a position to win the Scottish Premiership title. Celtic were playing at the same time in Motherwell and got a late penalty for handball. Referee John Beaton was sent to the monitor and handball was awarded after a review. Celtic won the game and put the last game in the final.

“Derek McInnes was not happy with a decision taken in another match at the same time. That’s when a notice of appeal was issued by the Scottish FA. Now, he has been found guilty.”