Derek McInnes has reportedly received a Scottish FA notice of complaint before his first league campaign as Rangers manager.
The case relates to comments McInnes made last season, when he was still Hearts boss, after Celtic won a late penalty against Motherwell.
That creates a possible early touchline issue for Rangers before competitive football begins.
McInnes is now preparing for his first Premiership season at Ibrox, so the timing gives an old controversy a new Rangers angle.
Why The Timing Matters For Rangers
Rangers open the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership campaign away to Dundee United on Friday, July 31.
Sky Sports lists the game as an 8pm kick-off, live on TV. Rangers then host Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday, August 9.
That opening stretch already carries pressure.
McInnes needs to make a fast start, set standards and give a rebuilt squad early authority. Any touchline disruption would be an avoidable complication.
The Scottish Sun reports that McInnes, Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt and Motherwell as a club have been cited. Hearings are scheduled for July 16.
A touchline ban has not been confirmed.
However, the report states that McInnes could face a two-to-four-game punishment if the charge leads to a sanction.
ReadRangers has already covered how Rangers open the 2026/27 Premiership season away to Dundee United. This SFA case now adds another pre-season storyline before that first test.
For supporters, the issue is not the old Hearts context alone.
It is whether their new manager risks starting life at Rangers with a disciplinary cloud over his opening matches.
McInnes will want this resolved cleanly before the serious work begins.
