Derek McInnes: Rangers manager handed four-match touchline ban for criticism of match officials while in charge at Hearts

Derek McInnes has been banned from the touchline for his first three domestic games as Rangers manager for his criticism of match officials.

He has been given a four-match ban, one suspended, for remarks made in the wake of Motherwell's late defeat by Celtic in the penultimate fixture of last season when he was Hearts head coach.

Rangers are set to appeal the sanction imposed.

McInnes criticised the penalty decision which led to Celtic's match-winner with the last kick of the game. Hearts were in a closely-contested Scottish Premiership title race with Celtic at the time, which they eventually lost on the final day of the season at their title rivals.

He described referee John Beaton's decision to award a penalty for handball against Sam Nicholson - on the advice of video assistant Andrew Dallas - as "actually quite disgusting".

He added: "I shouldn't be commenting on another game, but having seen that, it feels like us against everybody."

A Rangers statement read: "We do not believe Derek's view on a match-defining decision amounted to an attack on the competence or integrity of match officials.

"His comments were directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials. Considered fairly and in context, Derek's comments did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty."

The decision means the 55-year-old will be in the stands for Rangers' season opener at Dundee United on July 31, live on Sky Sports.

He will also not be in the dugout for their Premiership game against Hibernian at Ibrox and their League Cup second-round tie on the weekend of August 15/16.

The fourth match suspension will only be implemented if he breaches the same rule again before the end of the new season.

It comes a week after former Motherwell player Elliot Watt was handed a four-match ban by the Scottish FA for describing Celtic's penalty as the "worst VAR decision in history" on social media.

The Fir Park side were fined £5,000 after their own social media post following that game.

They were also both charged with breaching disciplinary rule 72, which forbids criticism that indicates "bias or incompetence" on match officials or impinges on their characters.

Speaking after winning his first friendly in charge of the club against Saint Ettiene, McInnes admitted that he felt the punishment was not fitting of his alleged crime.