Key Points
- Rangers manager Derek McInnes revealed that the Ibrox club contacted the Scottish Football Association regarding a heavy challenge by Celtic midfielder Mika Baur on striker Ryan Naderi.
- The incident occurred in the 64th minute during Rangers’ 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-fiinal victory against Celtic at Ibrox.
- Referee Nick Walsh awarded a foul against Rangers during the play, and VAR did not intervene or prompt an on-field review, leaving Baur unpunished.
- Rangers chief executive Jim Gillespie spoke directly with SFA head of referee operations Willie Collum to seek clarity on the decision.
- McInnes stated that Naderi’s ankle was left in a “mess” and described the tackle as poor, rendering the forward a major injury doubt for the upcoming William Hill Premiership rematch at Parkhead.
- Alongside Naderi, McInnes confirmed another unnamed player is a doubt for the weekend fixture, while left-back Tuur Rommens has returned to training following a groin injury.
Rangers F.C. (Glasgow Express) September 18, 2026 — Rangers manager Derek McInnes disclosed that club hierarchy initiated formal contact with the Scottish Football Association following a controversial challenge from Celtic midfielder Mika Baur that left striker Ryan Naderi fighting to be fit for the upcoming Old Firm league encounter.
The flashpoint occurred during the 64th minute of last Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory for the Light Blues. During the contest, a heavy challenge involving Celtic’s Mika Baur and Rangers forward Ryan Naderi resulted in referee Nick Walsh penalising the home side, while video assistant referee officials chose not to send the referee to the pitch-side monitor for a review.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s William Hill Premiership fixture at Parkhead, Derek McInnes addressed the media in a press conference, revealing that Ibrox chief executive Jim Gillespie felt compelled to reach out to the governing body’s head of referee operations, Willie Collum, to address the incident.
As reported by Andy Newport of the Daily Record, Derek McInnes stated that:
“Jim Gillespie spoke to Willie Collum and the SFA about it, [and I am] really not happy with the challenge.” McInnes further added:
“I’m not going to get caught up in referee chat. But I’m surprised that the referee wasn’t asked to look at that. I find it strange that he wasn’t. Ryan’s ankle’s a mess, it was a mess. It was a poor challenge. Sometimes these challenges can happen, but it didn’t look great, to be honest.”
How Badly Has the Tackle Impacted Ryan Naderi’s Fitness Ahead of the Parkhead Clash?
With Rangers preparing to cross the city to face Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side, the physical toll of the cup tie has presented Derek McInnes with significant selection headaches. Naderi, who has proven pivotal to the team’s recent run of form, missed training sessions in the lead-up to the weekend, leaving his participation hanging in the balance.
As detailed by the Glasgow Times, Derek McInnes noted:
“Ryan is one of two players who’s a wee bit of a doubt for the game on Sunday, but I don’t want to get bogged down in referee chat to be honest.”
Expanding on the squad’s condition during his media briefing, McInnes explained:
“So we’ll see how he is, but he certainly looked OK today. We’ll just assess that one with the physios. We’ve got another unnamed player, that I would rather not say, that is a doubt. And Ryan hasn’t trained today, but hoping he might train tomorrow. We don’t really have another like-for-like, but we’ll give Ryan every chance.”
McInnes acknowledged that coping without key personnel is a familiar hurdle for his squad. Should Naderi fail to prove his fitness, it would compound existing attacking concerns for Rangers, who have previously managed without other frontline options. Meanwhile, some positive news arrived in defence, as left-back Tuur Rommens returned to training following a lengthy rehabilitation period for a groin injury.
What Are the Broader Talking Points Surrounding the Old Firm Rematch?
The looming fixture at Parkhead brings together two rivals under starkly different emotional trajectories. While Rangers secured a dominant 3-0 cup triumph at Ibrox just days prior, McInnes has consistently warned his players against complacency, emphasizing that past victories do not guarantee success in the East End of Glasgow.
Discussing the tactical approach and the general discourse heading into the match, Derek McInnes remarked:
“Just because you win the game doesn’t mean it always says you get the tactics right and equally, when you lose a game, it doesn’t mean it says you got them wrong. Sometimes tactics can get a wee bit overplayed. I do think you normally win games down to the individual moments and the performance of players being really high and really strong.”
McInnes also downplayed the recurring discussion regarding the absence of away supporters at derby fixtures, maintaining that once the whistle blows, the focus must strictly remain on pitch performance.
“The game’s a game. I think once the ball rolls, it’s a game of football that we need to concentrate on the detail in and out of possession, what we’re looking to try and do,” McInnes told reporters.
Background
The tension surrounding refereeing decisions and disciplinary reviews in Scottish football has long been a focal point for clubs, managers, and supporters alike, particularly during high-stakes fixtures like the Old Firm derby. The introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) into the Scottish Premiership was designed to eliminate clear and obvious errors, yet interpretations of high tackles, card thresholds, and consistency in review triggers continue to spark intense debates across the sporting media.
In this instance, the flashpoint from the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final highlighted ongoing scrutiny regarding when and how on-field officials are advised to utilize pitch-side monitors. Clubs frequently maintain open lines of communication with the Scottish Football Association and its referee operations department led by Willie Collum to seek clarification on major incidents, ensuring accountability and transparency in officiating standards. For Rangers, addressing Mika Baur’s challenge on Ryan Naderi underscored a club-wide determination to protect player safety and challenge perceived inconsistencies in match-day sanctioning.
Prediction
The outcome of the unfolding situation regarding Ryan Naderi’s fitness and the aftermath of the SFA dialogue carries substantial weight for both Rangers supporters and the broader Scottish Premiership title race. If Naderi is ruled out of the fixture, Rangers will lose a focal point of their recent tactical setup, forcing McInnes to alter his attacking structure against a wounded Celtic side eager to bounce back at home.
For the supporters and the team, managing these squad vulnerabilities while maintaining the high-intensity, aggressive press that defined their recent cup success will be vital. A victory for Rangers at Parkhead would solidify their momentum and extend psychological dominance over their rivals, whereas a depleted squad or refereeing controversies could shift the balance back toward the hosts, making discipline, fitness management, and tactical execution decisive factors in the weekend’s outcome.
