Rangers have announced they will appeal the four-match ban issued to manager Derek McInnes by the Scottish FA.
The Ibrox manager was issued the sanction of an immediate three-match ban with the fourth match suspended after his comments on the penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell last season, when he was Hearts manager.
Rangers chiefs have confirmed they will appeal the ban as they do not believe the comments "amounted to an attack on the competence or integrity of match officials".
The club also state "similar language has previously been used in Scottish football by others with lesser disciplinary action or without any action at all".
The club statement read: "Rangers will appeal the sanction imposed on Derek McInnes by the Scottish FA for comments made last season.
"We do not believe Derek’s view on a match-defining decision amounted to an attack on the competence or integrity of match officials.
"His comments were directed at the decision, rather than representing any broader criticism of officials. Considered fairly and in context, Derek’s comments did not allege bias, incompetence or dishonesty.
"His concerns were widely shared by other commentators across the UK. The Scottish FA’s independent Key Match Incident Panel subsequently concluded that the referee’s original decision was correct and that VAR should not have intervened.
"Similar language has previously been used in Scottish football by others with lesser disciplinary action or without any action at all, raising legitimate questions about consistency, precedent and the application of the rules.
"Although the comments pre-dated Derek’s appointment, the club believes the issue at stake is important and must be challenged.
"Respect for officials and legitimate scrutiny are not competing principles.
"Managers, players and clubs must be able to speak honestly about major decisions if Scottish football is serious about raising standards and maintaining trust.
"Scrutiny, transparency and accountability should be seen as part of improving standards, not as a threat to them."
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The outcome of the Hampden hearing on Wednesday was announced as "proved".
The verdict read: "Proved. Four match suspension applied as follows: three matches immediate and one match suspended until the end of season 2026/27, suspended sanction applicable only should Derek McInnes further breach Disciplinary Rule 72 within this period."
In May, after Celtic were awarded a contentious penalty against Motherwell at Fir Park, then-Heart of Midlothian boss McInnes expressed his views, labelling the VAR decision as “disgusting”.
The 55-year-old told Sky Sports, “When you heard Celtic got a 96th-minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what's happened is they get the penalty.
"Having seen it again, it's disgusting. It is. I don't think it's a penalty kick.
"But we're up against it. We're up against everybody."
McInnes was cited last month, under Disciplinary Rule 72, which states that: 'No recognised football body, club, official, team official or other member of team staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a 'blog' on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character."
