The SFA has managed to embarrass itself once again after Rangers successfully appealed Derek McInnes’ excessive touchline punishment. The governing body initially ordered the Rangers manager to serve three matches immediately, with another match suspended. However, an appellate tribunal has now reduced the immediate punishment to two matches. Consequently, common sense has at least partly prevailed over the Derek McInnes SFA ban.
Rangers were right to challenge the SFA
Rangers announced immediately that the club would challenge the original punishment. Quite frankly, the Ibrox hierarchy had every reason to do so.
McInnes received the punishment for comments he made while managing Hearts last season. After Celtic received a controversial late penalty against Motherwell, McInnes described the decision as disgusting.
The SFA subsequently charged him under Disciplinary Rule 72. That rule prevents managers from criticising officials in a manner which suggests bias or incompetence.
However, managers, supporters and pundits criticise refereeing decisions every single week.
Therefore, the original punishment always looked extremely heavy. Indeed, McInnes has never exactly hidden his feelings when he believes something needs said.
SFA climbdown on McInnes ban proves Rangers had a case
The appellate tribunal has now changed the structure of the four match sanction. McInnes will serve two matches immediately while another two remain suspended until the end of this season.
In other words, Rangers successfully forced the SFA to reconsider its original judgement.
The Derek McInnes SFA ban therefore looks even more questionable now than it did initially.
Indeed, the governing body effectively acknowledged that three immediate matches represented an excessive punishment. Otherwise, why change it?
Rangers challenged the decision and Rangers achieved a meaningful result.
SFA ban overturned as McInnes returns for huge Rangers matches
McInnes will now watch Wednesday’s trip to Falkirk and Saturday’s Motherwell clash at Ibrox from the stands.
However, the Rangers boss will return to the technical area against St Mirren on 9 September. More importantly, the decision reduces the period in which Rangers must operate without McInnes on the touchline.
That matters enormously.
McInnes remains the man Rangers appointed to lead the club forward. Therefore, the Ibrox boss needs every opportunity to influence his players directly from the technical area.
Common sense finally wins at Ibrox
Of course, Rangers did not completely overturn the punishment. Two matches still represent a significant sanction for comments about one refereeing decision.
Nevertheless, the appeal has exposed the weakness of the original punishment.
The Derek McInnes SFA ban started as three immediate matches and one suspended. Following Rangers’ challenge, the SFA must now settle for two immediate matches and two suspended.
Ultimately, Rangers stood their ground and secured a better outcome.
The SFA went too far initially. Rangers called them on it.
For once, common sense prevailed.