Derek McInnes appeal could backfire spectacularly before Celtic clash

Derek McInnes appeal could backfire spectacularly before Celtic clash

Derek McInnes might be about to discover that appealing his touchline ban was not quite the clever move the Ibrox club thought it was.

Had McInnes simply accepted his punishment, the three-match immediate element of the suspension could have been dealt with much earlier.

Instead, the appeal has delayed matters.

If the Scottish FA upholds the original decision, McInnes now faces the possibility of being in the stand when Celtic visit Ibrox for their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final on September 13.

He can have few complaints if that happens.

Derek McInnes ban was imposed for a reason

The punishment stems from McInnes’ comments after Celtic’s dramatic victory over Motherwell last season, when he was still Hearts manager.

McInnes described the decision to award Celtic a late penalty as “disgusting”.

The Scottish FA subsequently found him in breach of Rule 72 and imposed a four-match suspension. Three games were immediate, with the fourth suspended until the end of the 2026/27 season.

The Ibrox club appealed, meaning McInnes remained on the touchline when the new campaign began.

You might imagine that somebody appealing a punishment concerning comments about officials would then be particularly careful around referees.

Apparently not.

Celtic clash could be costly consequence of appeal

At the end of the Ibrox club’s opening league game against Dundee United, McInnes marched onto the Tannadice pitch for an animated confrontation with referee Nick Walsh.

He was furious after a late penalty appeal was rejected and a goal kick awarded.

McInnes later acknowledged that he should not have approached Walsh on the pitch.

That is precisely the point.

Here was a manager already fighting a disciplinary punishment, yet he still could not resist confronting an official at full-time.

His appeal will obviously be judged on the original Rule 72 case rather than a completely separate incident. However, there should be no sympathy if the original sanction is upheld.

McInnes was punished for his own words. The Ibrox club chose to appeal.

If delaying that punishment now results in him sitting in the stand against Celtic, that is simply the consequence of that decision.

Perhaps this time the message might finally sink in.