Two houses, both alike in dignity
Ok, Shakespearean quotes might be a bit much for some football chat, but transport the line from Verona to Glasgow and it perfectly represents the city’s two main footballing factions: Celtic and Rangers.
With a rivalry that goes back to the late 19th century, when the two clubs were part of the 11 founders of the Scottish League, the pair may have been separated in recent years due to Rangers’ past in-discrepancies, but the political, religious and social divide represented by the pair has endured.
And with Rangers’ imminent return to the top-flight of Scottish football, the pair will be able to renew their compelling rivalry on the pitch once more. And boy does Scottish football need it. We will get a teaser of the famous Old Firm clash next month as the pair face each other in the Scottish Cup semi-final on April 17.
The rivalry is the backbone of Scottish football and one of the biggest in the world, the decline in football north of the border is, in part, due to the blue side’s demotion to the bottom rung in the league ladder. But they’re on the way back up, and it won’t be long before the pair are back to their antagonistic, warring best.
But what about the two sides being granted entry to the English FA Cup? For years the idea that they should join the English leagues has been mooted, and while this might bring with it a whole different set of problems – not least the reliance on the duo from the rest of Scottish football – there is a genuine argument to suggest they could compete in the (English) FA Cup.
As two of the biggest clubs in the British Isles, having the Bhoys and the Gers competing for the famous old trophy would add an extra dimension to the whole thing. It could have a rejuvenating effect on a competition that has been struggling in recent years, the demands of domestic and European football too much for some with the FA Cup suffering as a result.
But the lure of seeing the famous Glaswegian clubs in England’s premier Cup competition, pitting their wits against England’s finest, would be significant enough to draw in bigger audiences and therefore an injection of money and interest. It would also enliven the England/Scotland rivalry, one nearly as big as that between the two clubs themselves.
How they would fare remains to be seen. The quality of Scottish football is likely akin to the middle of the Championship at best, so their progression in the competition is by no means a given. But the inherent size of both clubs and the accompanying volume of support would lend themselves well to the competition regardless of the quality of either side.
However, problems could arise should either of the sides go on to lift the trophy, resulting in qualification into Europe. As per Cardiff City in 2008, the FA would need to offer special dispensation to allow the clubs to represent England in Europe. As members of a different FA, the situation is liable to cause consternation and dissenting voices from other clubs, Rangers and Celtic taking up European spots that could be assigned to English clubs. Whether they would represent Scotland by winning an English competition is a potential banana-skin to the idea.
And given the ineptitude of the FA regarding far more simple matters, the situation is liable to cause much disruption and wrangling between the two FAs. But should the English and Scottish FA’s find a way to mediate the possible inclusion of the ‘Old Firm’ into the FA Cup without damaging the traditional set-up of either league or cup competitions, I see no reason why fans would not welcome the chance and flock to see a possible Celtic v Liverpool or Rangers v Chelsea quarter-final clash.
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