One-match ban for Mcinnes for his gesture to Celtic fans

Aberdeen manager Derek Mcinnes has been given a one-match touchline ban by the Scottish FA after being dismissed following a gesture to Celtic fans at Hampden last month.

Mcinnes was sent to the stand during his team’s 3-0 William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat after aiming an arm gesture at opposition fans. He was reacting to a sectarian chant directed towards him.

The former Rangers player, pictured, was given a misconduct charge and was handed a one-match touchline ban with a further game suspended until the end of next season.

Mcinnes will serve the suspension during his team’s meeting with Celtic at Pittodrie on Saturday, when the league leaders could wrap up the title.

Celtic and Rangers have both been fined £7,500 over the onfield confrontation which followed their latest meeting. The clubs received the same punishment at an Scottish FA disciplinary hearing after being accused of breaching rule 204 – where three or more players and/or

members of team staff are involved in a confrontation with the opposition.

Players and staff from both sides, as well as stewards, were involved in pushing and jostling after Rangers left-back Andy Halliday confronted Celtic skipper Scott Brown over his celebrations immediately after the final whistle sounded on a 2-1 win for the Ladbrokes Premiership champions at Parkhead on 31 March.

Halliday received a second yellow card, while Rangers substitute Wes Foderingham and Celtic defender Mikael Lustig were also booked.

Aberdeen and Hearts were each fined £500 for the same offence last week and both Inverness and Ross County recently received £2,500 punishments following a Highland derby confrontation.

Brown faced an SFA hearing last week over his celebrations from the 31 March encounter but his charge was not proved.