THE SFA have confirmed that the Scottish Cup in 2020/21 will be condensed and streamlined to make up for lost time as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Scottish footballing authorities will have the Preliminary Round One on 28 November with the final pencilled in on Saturday May 8. The SFA confirmed the changes in a statement this evening.
Celtic will enter in Round 3 (Last 32) but there will be new rules for this competition. There will be no replays, extra time and penalties will be used in the event of a draw. There will be three substitutes, unlike the five used in the league but should a game progress to extra time, an additional sub can be made.
Clubs must be compliance with COVID testing from Round 3 onwards, in order to protect the Premiership teams from being infected by lower league sides.
Celtic will kick off this new campaign on the last weekend of January but have still to complete last season’s contest. Celtic will travel to Hampden at the weekend to face Aberdeen with a place in the revised Scottish Cup Final from 2020 at stake. Neil Lennon’s men are chasing an astonishing twelfth successive trophy and a quadruple Treble – which would be a phenomenal feat.