Derek McInnes cited for ‘disgusting’ Celtic penalty remark

New Rangers manager Derek McInnes is facing a possible touchline ban after being cited for calling the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell “disgusting”.

The Scottish FA has issued a notice of complaint over the comments made at the end of last season when McInnes was in charge of Hearts.

Motherwell and their midfielder Elliott Watt also face sanction from the governing body over social media posts about a stoppage-time spot-kick given for handball that was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho.

Celtic’s 2-1 victory at Fir Park kept them one point behind Hearts, who they beat to the title a few days later in a final-day decider.

All three parties will now face disciplinary hearings on 16 July.

Speaking to Sky Sports after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle, 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.

“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.”

A post from Motherwell on X read: “As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus”, while Watt described the penalty award as “the worst VAR decision in history”.

Following the late drama at Fir Park, referee John Beaton’s contact details were posted online, with police keeping his home under surveillance. A teenager was then charged “in connection with a data protection offence”.

The SFA compliance officer has issued the complaints under disciplinary rule 72 stating that: ‘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.”