Derek McInnes has finally opened up on the touchline bust-up that marred Rangers’ tense 1-0 Old Firm victory at Celtic Park, revealing exactly why he blanked a member of the Celtic coaching staff in the aftermath of a heated confrontation that reignited one of Scottish football’s most bitter personal feuds.
The flashpoint arrived just four minutes into the match when Rangers defender Manny Fernandez was booked for pulling back Celtic striker Camilo Duran. McInnes was incensed by the decision, immediately turning to the fourth official to argue his case. He insisted it was a first offence and did not merit a yellow card, gesturing animatedly with his fingers to underline his point.
What happened next sparked chaos. Celtic coach Mark Fotheringham stepped across from the opposing dugout to confront McInnes directly. The two men squared up on the touchline, exchanging heated words as players and staff from both benches became involved. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was forced to physically step between the pair to prevent the situation from escalating into something far worse. Referee John Beaton, having witnessed the altercation, booked both McInnes and Fotheringham.
Speaking after the match, McInnes made no attempt to hide his frustration. He explained that he felt Fotheringham had overstepped the mark by involving himself in a decision that had nothing to do with him.
“I was making my point to the fourth official about the foul,” McInnes said. “It was a first challenge, the boy barely touched him, and I didn’t think it was a booking. That’s a conversation between me and the officials. When people from the other dugout start running over to get involved in something that doesn’t concern them, I’m not going to stand there and entertain it.”
McInnes confirmed he deliberately ignored Fotheringham in the aftermath of the confrontation, but was keen to make clear that his issue was not with Martin O’Neill, who he insists he did not snub.
“Let me be clear about this — I’ve got no problem with Martin,” McInnes said. “Martin stepped in to calm things down and I respect him for that. He’s a man I’ve known a long time and there’s no issue there. But Fotheringham? I’ve got no interest in shaking hands with someone who stuck his nose in where it wasn’t needed. I blanked him and I’d do the same again.”
The bad blood between McInnes and Fotheringham is nothing new. The pair clashed in January 2026 when McInnes was in charge of Hearts, and Fotheringham was forced to phone and apologise afterwards. That apology clearly did little to smooth things over. On that occasion, McInnes had described Fotheringham as an inexperienced coach who got a bit carried away. Those words clearly still linger.
This time, McInnes was also spotted gesturing three fingers toward the Celtic bench during the match, a pointed reference to Rangers’ 3-0 victory over Celtic the previous week. The gesture did not go unnoticed by the Celtic staff and only added fuel to an already volatile situation.
“I don’t need to explain the gesture,” McInnes said when pressed. “People can read into it what they like. The result last week speaks for itself and the result today speaks for itself. We came here and won. That’s all that matters.”
McInnes then turned his attention to the wider picture, and he did not hold back. He accused Celtic of being a club that has benefited from favourable decisions for years, suggesting that this season, without those breaks, they have been exposed.
“Let’s be honest about it,” McInnes said. “Celtic have been a cheating club for years. They’ve had decisions go their way season after season, referees intimidated, opposition players sent off for nothing, penalties handed to them like gifts. Everyone in Scottish football knows it. But this season? They couldn’t cheat. The decisions haven’t gone their way and look what’s happened. They’ve been found out.”
He continued: “You can only ride your luck for so long. When the breaks stop coming and you have to win on merit, on actual football, the picture changes. That’s what we’re seeing now. They couldn’t cheat their way out of it this season and it’s killing them.”
The comments are certain to spark a furious response from Celtic Park, but McInnes was unmoved. “I’ll say what I think. I’ve been in this game long enough to know when something isn’t right. I’m not going to pretend otherwise just to keep people happy.”
Despite the drama, McInnes was keen to play down the significance of the win in the context of the title race. He called it just three points and emphasised that the season was still early with plenty of football left to play. The result left Rangers second in the Premiership table, just two points behind Celtic.
“The league isn’t won in September,” McInnes added. “It’s a good win, an important win, but it’s three points. There’s a long way to go and plenty of points still to play for. We’ll enjoy it tonight and then focus on the next one.”
For Celtic, the defeat is a blow, but O’Neill was quick to play down the touchline incident. “These things happen in derbies,” he said. “Emotions run high. Derek and I have known each other a long time. It’s finished now as far as I’m concerned.”
Whether it is truly finished remains to be seen. McInnes and Fotheringham will likely cross paths again, and the next Old Firm meeting already carries extra spice. For now, McInnes has made his position clear: he felt disrespected by Fotheringham, he responded in kind, and he has no regrets about blanking a man he believes had no business being involved in the first place.
