Union Bears unfurl banner aimed at the SFA inside Ibrox during Rangers friendly vs Saint-Etienne

Rangers fans sent a message to the SFA on Wednesday night as they played against Saint-Etienne in a pre-season friendly at Ibrox.

Before kick-off in Govan, Derek McInnes was slapped with a four-match ban for comments about a penalty decision given in Celtic's favour while he was in charge of Hearts last season.

McInnes will definitely be missing from the touchline in the first three games of the season, with the fourth match suspended.

Rangers have since decided to appeal against the punishment, but the SFA are also attracting unwanted attention from the Ibrox faithful due to a report about their behaviour towards masoct Broxi Bear.

Earlier this week, an independent review of last season's Scottish Cup meeting between Rangers and Celtic found that the mascot was "personally warned" about "provoking" fans.

In McInnes' first game in charge at Ibrox, fans were quick to Broxi's defence with a message aimed at the governing body.

What the Union Bears banner said about the SFA

Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack shared an image of the banner during the first-half of Wednesday night's friendly.

It simply said: "No surrender, Broxi. [Expletive] the SFA."

Broxi was, in fact, in attendance to watch Lawrence Shankland's first Ibrox goal in Rangers colours.

And there's no doubt that the Bhoy-provoking bear will be in the thick of it again on 2 January when the first Old Firm of the season at Ibrox - as it stands - is held.

What did Broxi Bear do in the Old Firm?

Rangers were beaten by Celtic on penalties in the Scottish Cup quater-finals at Ibrox last season.

After the game, both sets of fans made their way onto the pitch, which led to the SFA's indepdendent review.

According to Mark Blackbourne's review, Broxi was "twice observed and recorded, by the Match Delegate, provoking the away support and personally warned by the Safety Officer."

Ibrox News reported in May that the Union Bears were then effectively banned from attending a league match at Celtic Park at the end of the campaign, reigniting the ugly issue between the two Old Firm clubs regarding away fan attendance.