McInnes could be in stand for first Old Firm game

Derek McInnes could be in the stand for his first Old Firm match as Rangers manager after a hearing date of 31 August was set for his appeal against a four-match touchline ban, one game of which is suspended. The penalty issued in July related to McInnes' spell as Hearts boss last season, when he described the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May as "disgusting". A stoppage-time spot-kick for handball was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho and 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. Rangers argued the remarks were "directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials" when announcing their intention to contest the ban. And McInnes, who could be in the stand for games against Falkirk, Motherwell and Celtic, added: "I don't agree with it and the club don't agree with it. I'm glad that we're going to appeal against that. "I've been a manager for 19 years and you know you're going to be asked about contentious decisions and all the rest of it. "I've never wanted to make it personal. For me, the decision was wrong. I feel as though I made my points at the hearing. "Broadcasters pay a lot of money to hear managers' reactions. We've got to be careful that we don't have managers and players who have to be really sure of themselves and check themselves before answering a question. "At no point was I wanting to inflame a situation. The situation was already being discussed before I did my Press. It was quite a big moment in the season and there was a lot of emotion, but I felt as though what I said was controlled." The games against Falkirk away on 2 September and Motherwell three days later at home immediately after the hearing are in the Scottish Premiership, while the 13 September visit of Celtic is in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. Speaking to media after a win against Falkirk at Tynecastle on the same night as Celtic's win at Fir Park, 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." Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum later backed the call, citing "clear evidence" of Motherwell's Sam Nicholson's hand and arm "in an unnatural position" - and the resulting contact "a punishable handball". 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 statement from Rangers added: "Respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny are not competing principles. "Managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is serious about raising standards and maintaining trust. "Scrutiny, transparency and accountability should be seen as part of improving standards, not as a threat to them."