Rangers manager receives ban
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been issued a four-game touchline ban, with one game suspended, following his comments regarding a late penalty decision involving Celtic. The remarks, made at the close of last season when McInnes was managing Hearts, described the decision to award Celtic a penalty against Motherwell in May as “disgusting.” This incident occurred during a stoppage-time spot-kick for handball, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted.
The penalty contributed to Celtic’s 3-2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May, keeping them a single point behind Hearts. Celtic subsequently secured the title days later in a final-day decider. McInnes’s comments were made to a broadcaster after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle on the same evening.
McInnes stated, “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.” He added, “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.”
The ban means McInnes will be in the stands for Rangers’ Scottish Premiership opener away to Dundee United on 31 July. The same conditions will apply for the subsequent league match at home against Hibernian and a League Cup tie scheduled for the weekend of 15/16 August. However, the Scottish FA ban does not extend to the Europa League qualifier against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Reactions and previous sanctions
Following the late drama at Fir Park, the contact details of referee John Beaton were posted online, leading to police surveillance of his home. A teenager was later charged in connection with a data protection offence. The SFA head of referees, Willie Collum, supported the penalty call, citing “clear evidence” of Sam Nicholson’s hand and arm being in an “unnatural position,” resulting in a “punishable handball.”
Motherwell and their former midfielder Elliott Watt have already faced sanctions concerning social media posts related to the incident. Watt, who has since moved to Turkish club Samsunspor, received a four-match suspension after describing the decision as “the worst VAR decision in history.” Motherwell was fined £5,000 for releasing a video with the caption: “As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus.”
The Scottish FA compliance officer issued complaints to all three parties under disciplinary rule 72. This rule prohibits any recognised football body, club, official, or player under the jurisdiction of the SFA from criticising match officials’ decisions or performance in a way that suggests bias or incompetence, or from making remarks that impinge on their character, through interviews, blogs, social media, or any other public manner.
The suspended portion of McInnes’s ban will be enforced if he breaches rule 72 again before the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
Motherwell’s pre-season preparations
In other news, the Motherwell women’s team has been actively engaged in their pre-season preparations. They secured a significant 8-1 victory against Queens Park in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Excelsior Stadium. Mason Clark was a key player, scoring four goals, while second-half substitute Lia Young, an academy graduate, completed a hat-trick. Carla Boyce also contributed to the scoring for Motherwell.
Head Coach Iain Robinson included four trialists in his starting lineup, alongside established players such as Rebeca Cameron, Jenna Penman, Chelsie Watson, Tegan Browning, Shannon Leishman, Mason Clark, and Carla Boyce. The team demonstrated their top-flight experience from the start, consistently pressuring Queens Park and forcing them to concede possession deep in their own half.
The opening goal came from Mason Clark, who calmly placed her strike past the goalkeeper after latching onto a through ball. Just three minutes later, Carla Boyce doubled the lead with a brilliant chip from distance. Clark then scored her second and third goals, making the score 4-0 and then 5-0 by half-time. In the second half, Lia Young scored her first goal after an assist from Hannah Cairns, followed by two more goals to complete her hat-trick, securing the 8-1 win.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”