Rangers will appeal the four-match suspension imposed on their new manager, Derek McInnes, for comments made during the final week of last season’s title race, while he was still Hearts manager. Rangers’ case rests on their belief that the comments amounted to “legitimate scrutiny” and that scrutiny and accountability should be seen as part of improving standards, rather than as a threat.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the Scottish FA found a breach of Disciplinary Rule 72. He received a four-match suspension: three matches immediate and one suspended until the end of 2026/27. The suspended match would be activated should he breach Rule 72 again during that period. Rangers also believe that similar comments elsewhere in Scottish football have previously attracted lighter sanctions or no disciplinary action.
Rangers FC statement: “similar language has previously been used in Scottish football by others with lesser disciplinary action or without any action at all”.
While not looking at examples of similar language that has not faced any action, this article will instead look at the McInnes punishment, compared to other sanctions issued to managers in Scottish football in recent years, before looking back to see who the most sanctioned manager in Scottish football history is.
The McInnes Case
The case arose while McInnes was still Hearts manager and closing in on what would have been a truly historic title win. Celtic beat Motherwell 3–2 through Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time, keeping the title race alive with the last kick of the game. Had the match ended 2–2, Celtic would have needed to beat Hearts by at least three goals on the final day. The victory at Fir Park reduced Hearts’ lead to one point, meaning any Celtic win in the decider would be enough to take the title. It was therefore a season-defining decision.
We can understand why McInnes — and everyone else who wanted Hearts to win the title — was deeply upset by the award of the penalty. Even within that emotional context, however, there remains a line that managers cannot cross when criticising officials.
VAR official Andrew Dallas recommended the late review for handball and referee John Beaton awarded the penalty. McInnes, speaking at Tynecastle after Hearts had beaten Falkirk in the other major game that night, called the decision “actually quite disgusting” and said that it felt like Hearts were “up against everybody”.
Rule 72 covers public criticism of match officials “which indicates bias or incompetence”, as well as remarks which impinge on their character. The Scottish FA has published the outcome of McInnes’s hearing, but not written reasons explaining which part of his comments proved decisive. The phrase “up against everybody” appears the most likely basis for the finding, because it could be interpreted as implying bias against Hearts.
What Rangers argue is that McInnes strongly criticised a match-defining decision without attacking the competence or integrity of the officials. Their statement says his comments were directed at the decision and, when considered in context, did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty.
They clearly believe that McInnes believed the decision was wrong, was extremely unhappy with it, and so should be able to criticise said decision without fear of reprisal. The club also raises questions about consistency and precedent, arguing that comparable language has previously produced lighter punishment or no charge.
Inevitably, the case has prompted comparisons on social media with former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. After a defeat at Tynecastle in March 2024, Rodgers said that the match had been “refereed outside the field.” . He specifically named VAR John Beaton, described the officiating as “really, really poor” and used the word “incompetence”.
Rodgers was found to have breached Rule 72 and received a two-match suspension: one match immediate and one suspended.
A two-match sanction appears far more lenient than the four-match punishment imposed on the new Rangers manager. Can there be a straightforward explanation for this though?
Yes.
The Rule Change
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