McInnes Faces Possible Touchline Ban After Penalty Comments
New Rangers manager Derek McInnes is under scrutiny and may face a touchline ban after being cited for describing the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell as "disgusting".
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has issued a notice of complaint concerning comments McInnes made at the conclusion of last season when he was managing Hearts.
Additional Sanctions for Motherwell and Elliott Watt
Motherwell Football Club and their midfielder Elliott Watt are also subject to potential sanctions from the SFA due to social media posts regarding a stoppage-time penalty awarded for handball, which was successfully converted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Celtic's 2-1 victory at Fir Park ensured they remained one point behind Hearts, whom they subsequently defeated on the final day to secure the title.
Disciplinary hearings for all three parties are scheduled for 16 July.
McInnes's Comments on the Penalty Decision
Following a victory against Falkirk at Tynecastle, McInnes spoke to Sky Sports and said:
"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."
Motherwell and Watt's Social Media Posts
Motherwell posted on X (formerly Twitter):
"As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus"
Meanwhile, Elliott Watt described the penalty award as:
"the worst VAR decision in history"
Aftermath and Police Involvement
Following the late penalty decision at Fir Park, referee John Beaton's contact information was shared online, prompting police to monitor his residence. Subsequently, a teenager was charged in relation to a data protection offence.
SFA Disciplinary Rules Cited
The SFA compliance officer issued the complaints under disciplinary rule 72, which states:
"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."
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