Celtic and Rangers Scottish Cup buzz is based on how much suffering might be felt on the other side - Hugh Keevins

I knew we were one country separated by two different languages when the caller was describing on air his reaction to the Scottish Cup draw that paired Celtic with Rangers in the semi-finals.

“I was heavy buzzin’,” he said. This is, I understand, a description of high excitement and keen anticipation over a fixture that will emphasise the vindictiveness and malice that underpins the rivalry between two sets of supporters. I don’t know how long Michael Beale spent in that pub along the road from Ibrox on the day he came up to visually demonstrate that there was a viable alternative to Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager of Rangers.

But it must have been long enough to be told the fundamental ground rule that applies to games between his club and their greatest rivals. Satisfaction over a derby win is never complete without the undeniable knowledge there is suffering being felt on the other side.

This might be symptomatic of an insular frame of mind but it is an accurate representation of how the fans of both clubs feel. Those who buzz heavily for less innocent reasons than the radio caller have unnerved Police Scotland – because there will now have to be three Old Firm derbies in quick succession.

They will underline in triplicate the lengths people will go to in order to prove their dislike of the other side. And it will highlight the depths to which they will sink for the purposes of getting their point across. The law-abiding, meanwhile, will exert emotional pressure on the clubs that intensifies the need not to disappoint in an atmosphere of rapid-fire consequences.

Celtic fans want to win the semi-final because it would mean the Rangers supporters would have to live with the full and certain knowledge Ange