VAR's Thorny Issue: When Passion Meets Perilous Free Speech The Scottish FA's decision to ban Derek McInnes from four matches for describing a contentious penalty as "disgusting" has sparked a wider debate about the balance between respect for referees and freedom of expression in football.
On the surface, this appears to be a straightforward case of a manager being punished for criticizing an official's decision.
However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that this is more than just a matter of McInnes's opinions; it's about the culture of the sport.