Old Firm cup clash switched to Sunday

The Tennent‘s Scottish Cup tie between Celtic and Rangers has been switched to Sunday, January 9.

The game will be shown live on Sky Sports with a 12.15pm kick-off.

Sky were forced to ditch their plans to screen the top tie from the third round on the previous Friday evening when the Old Firm clubs were paired together.

The chances of Strathclyde Police giving the green light for the match to take place on a Friday night was virtually zero and that proved the case this morning when the tie was re-arranged.

The fall-out from the last meeting between the clubs is still hanging over Scottish football with most of the trouble taking place on the pitch.

Celtic striker Henri Camara and Nacho Novo of Rangers could be punished for their part in the match which has been dubbed ‘the game of shame.‘

Both players could face suspension after television evidence when the SFA‘s disciplinary committee meet tomorrow.

Camara appeared to aim a kick at on-loan Liverpool defender Gregory Vignal, while Novo could be banned for stamping on Stephen Pearson‘s neck – an incident he claimed was accidental.

With so many flashpoints arising from Old Firm fixtures in the past, Rangers manager Alex McLeish admitted after the draw was made that he fully expected the time and date of the Scottish Cup clash to be switched.

He said: “That is six meetings this season so I don‘t suppose the authorities will be too pleased.

“We know why this fixture has an early kick-off normally and I don‘t expect that to change.”

All other ties will be played on Saturday, January 8 and the two drawn second round ties – East Fife v Huntly and Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton – will be replayed this Saturday with 3pm kick-offs.