Scottish FA told natural justice was perverted with 'excessive' Derek McInnes ban at Rangers

Rangers continue to deal with the fallout from the Scottish FA as they approach the start of the Scottish Premiership season.

After the findings of the pitch invasion and drama that followed the Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic last season, the new campaign as an added spice to it.

Not only that, but Derek McInnes will now be banned for the first three league games, putting him on the backfoot immediately

Of course, the SFA slapped McInnes with a four-match ban, one suspended, for his comments on Celtic last season.

Calling a penalty his new Old Firm rivals got at Motherwell as "disgusting", the then-Hearts boss was far from happy in the title race.

Now at Rangers, he continues to deal with the fallout.

Where does that leave Rangers?

Well, for starters, it means McInnes won't be in the dugout as the Bears kickstart their Scottish Premiership season against Dundee United at Tannadice on Friday.

Hugh Keevins wasn't having any of it, admitting that it was simply excessive, especially after McInnes swapped jobs.

Writing in the print edition of the Sunday People, the respected journalist reacted to the ban with the season right around the corner.

"Of course, the four-game ban for Derek McInnes, for calling a referee decision 'disgusting', is excessive," Keevins started.

"And natural justice is perverted when a manager breaches rules at once club, but has to serve his punishment at another."

What next for Derek McInnes and Rangers?

Ibrox News has covered that Rangers could appeal McInnes' ban.

Elliot Watt, previously of Motherwell before his summer exit, was also handed a ban and fine for calling the same penalty incident the worst VAR decision of all time.

So, the SFA do have a slight precedent to follow.

Given the time that any possible appeals can take, we're confident that McInnes won't be in the dugout at Tannadice on Friday.

There will be natural complaints about bias and all of this, but punishment was always expected in this scenario, no matter who you support.

Four games is the issue with it all, especially as McInnes begins the most important job of his career at Ibrox.

It seems ridiculous that comments made last season, solely on matters that happened in that campaign, are ruled against months later.

Not only was the title decided days after that incident, but McInnes is in a new job altogether, so the matters don't correlate at all now.

It was simply a comment on an incident, and the Scottish FA are simply protecting their own back and officials yet again.

All Rangers and McInnes can do now is prepare correctly, and get the business done on the pitch.