McInnes could be in stand for first Old Firm game

What the report says

Derek McInnes could be in the stands for Rangers’ first Old Firm meeting of the season if his appeal against a touchline ban is not resolved in his favour before then, BBC Sport Football reports. A hearing on 31 August has been set over a four-match ban, with one game suspended, meaning the Rangers manager may be absent from matches against Falkirk, Motherwell and Celtic, depending on the outcome.

The punishment stems from comments McInnes made last season while in charge of Hearts, when he criticised a late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell. BBC Sport says the remarks were judged by the Scottish FA to have crossed the line, while Rangers argued they were aimed at the refereeing decision itself rather than officials more broadly. McInnes said he did not agree with the ban and believed his post-match comments were measured.

The article places the dispute in the context of a high-profile refereeing decision that helped shape the title race. It also notes that Scottish FA referees chief Willie Collum later defended the penalty call. As background, the report adds that scrutiny of officials is a recurring issue in Scottish football, especially around fixtures involving Celtic and Rangers, where emotions and public attention are particularly intense.