Rangers intend to contest a four-match touchline ban given to manager Derek McInnes for describing as "disgusting" the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May.

Derek McInnes will watch Rangers' opening three domestic games of the season from the stand Rangers intend to contest a four-match touchline ban given to manager Derek McInnes for describing as "disgusting" the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May. The comments, made at the end of last season when McInnes was in charge of Hearts, related to a stoppage-time spot-kick for handball that was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho. Celtic's 3-2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May kept them one point behind Hearts, who they beat to the title a few days later in a final-day decider. Responding to the Scottish FA penalty, which is an immediate three-game ban with one suspended until the end of the season, Rangers say the remarks were "directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials". Speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle the same night, McInnes 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. McInnes is due to be in the stands as Rangers open the Scottish Premiership away to Dundee United on 31 July. The same conditions apply for the following league game at home to Hibernian and for a League Cup tie on the weekend of 15/16 August.