Derek McInnes in Rangers touchline ban after penalty anger as Hearts comments land punishment
The former Hearts boss has been handed a ban after comments made while in Gorgie.
Former Hearts boss Derek McInnes will serve a touchline ban at Rangers after comments made at Tynecastle.
The Ibrox manager has been served a four-game ban with one suspended by the Scottish FA that means he will miss Premiership matches including his opener versus Dundee United. It stems from comments made during last season’s title race when McInnes - who was head coach of Hearts at the time of the offence - was angry over Celtic being awarded a controversial penalty on the penultimate day of the term.
Ex-Jambo Sam Nicholson was declared to have committed handball by VAR official Andrew Dallas in Celtic’s clash at Motherwell, referee John Beaton sent for a monitor review, and he pointed for a penalty. Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched the effort to win the game for Martin O’Neill’s men. It meant Hearts needed to draw on the final day to become champions rather than a narrow defeat. Celtic eventually won 3-1 and the title and McInnes hit out at the call in North Lanarkshire as ‘disgusting.’ He now lands a four-game ban off the back of it.
What did Derek McInnes say on Celtic penalty vs Motherwell?
McInnes said of Beaton’s decision after advice from Dallas: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty. Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. It is. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody.”
His offence as per the SFA disciplinary page states: “Disciplinary Rule 72 - No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the Decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character.
“For the avoidance of doubt this Rule applies (i) whether reported to the Scottish FA by a match official for Misconduct or otherwise, and (ii) where remarks are brought to the Scottish FA’s attention, or of which the Scottish FA becomes aware, by whatever manner or means.
“There shall be a resumption that any material published in such manner was published in the name of and/or with the authority of the person or body bearing to have published the material.”