Rangers could cite a previous example of a manager describing refereeing decisions as "disgusting" and avoiding punishment in their defence of Derek McInnes.
McInnes Faces Hearing Over 'Disgusting' Comment
The Ibrox boss is up in front of Hampden beaks on Wednesday after being hit with a charge for his comments on Celtic's last gasp penalty to win at Motherwell last season.
McInnes was Hearts boss and within touching distance of the Premiership title after a 3-0 home win over Falkirk in the penultimate game of the season. That result meant the Jambos would only have had to avoid a three-goal defeat at Parkhead on the final day to claim the league crown.
That was until Martin O'Neill's men were awarded a spot kick by referee John Beaton - on the advice of VAR Andrew Dallas - deep into stoppage time at Fir Park. Kelechi Iheancho scored, which meant any win on the final day would do for the defending champions, which they eventually got late on against the capital club to seal a fifth league triumph on the bounce.
Asked for his view of the decision after beating the Bairns, McInnes described the call as "disgusting." He will now have to explain himself to the blazers at a disciplinary hearing after being hit with a notice of complaint from the SFA.
And he could be facing a significant touchline ban based on the sanction imposed on former 'Well midfielder Elliott Watt. He posted on social media in the aftermath, describing the penalty as the "worst VAR decision in history," which earned him a four-game ban last week. He has since joined Turkish side Samsunspor, although the suspension will follow him overseas.
Peter Grant Precedent
However, Rangers may well point to similar comments from then Alloa boss Peter Grant that went unpunished. The Wasps gaffer was left fuming after a 2-1 defeat to Dunfermline back in February 2021, in which his side were denied a penalty and had a goal disallowed.
He said: "The goal. The penalty kick. Time wasting. Two balls sitting behind the goal, we keep saying to him [referee Steven Reid] and I get booked for it because I've said it from the start, and we get the usual four minutes [added time]. It's disgusting."
"I said to him [Reid] after the game, and he'll tell you, I don't care what anybody says. I went and said to him: 'Do you analyse your game afterwards? Could I see you report?' Because I keep asking [if] I can get reports after the game, because I get crucified for shouting things on the pitch."
"Look at our goal and then the big centre-half comes through and if he gives the goal then the centre-half comes through our centre-forward then okay, he's done it both times. But for the centre-half to come through our centre-forward straight after it, in the same way, and he played on. It's disgusting."
