Scottish Cup to resume this month after Covid suspension

The Scottish Cup will restart this month, the SFA has confirmed.

Second round ties will be completed on Tuesday, March 23 before the third round – featuring Premiership sides – takes place on April 3.

The final will be played at Hampden on May 22, after both semi-finals on the weekend of May 8.

League One, League Two and Highland League clubs have been allowed to restart training and play matches after players have been tested for coronavirus – opening the door for the cup to resume.

The SFA also revealed that concussion subs will be trialled in the tournament.

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive, said: “The Scottish Cup is our flagship competition and we are pleased that the temporary suspension of the lower leagues has now been lifted to allow the matches to resume.

“With the green shoots of hope emerging with the continuing successful rollout of the vaccination programme and the announcement of restrictions easing in the future, the news that the Scottish Cup final will be played in May at Hampden Park will hopefully come as a further boost to Scottish football fans this week.

“The remaining rounds will be played in quick succession and with the fixtures coming thick and fast as the domestic season comes to a conclusion, the showpiece Scottish Cup final will once again provide an exciting finale for the Scottish football season.”

The 2019/20 season final took place just before Christmas, with Celtic beating Hearts on penalties to lift a fourth successive Scottish Cup.