Celtic vs Rangers Scottish Cup final set for TV clash with FA Cup as SFA ready to battle Man United vs City

The Scottish Cup final will go toe to toe with the Manchester derby down south as the SFA want no repeat of the angry row from last year.

Celtic meet Rangers at Hampden for the first time in more than two decades and it's set to be a fixture that draws eyeballs from across the globe. It's set for May 25, the same day Manchester United face rivals City in the FA Cup showpiece down south, with both games currently pencilled in for 3pm kick-offs.

The BBC hold the rights to both finals which poses an obvious scheduling headache and last year, the SFA got around that by moving the Inverness vs Celtic final to a 5.30 kick-off to allow both finals to be shown live UK-wide. But that sparked fury from both clubs involved in the Hampden showdown who were left furious at the break from tradition. The SFA claimed it was due to a request from the BBC to allow the game to reach 'as wide an audience as possible' but MSPS got involved insisting moving to accommodate the English final set a 'dangerous precedent.'

The backlash was ferocious and according to the Daily Mail, the SFA want no part of a similar saga. And, with the added draw of an Old Firm final this year, it's reported they plan to press ahead with a 3pm kick-off that will clash with the Manchester derby.

It's reported that Police Scotland are reluctant to sanction a later kick-off to reduce the chance of trouble. And cops down south, who brought last year's FA Cup showpiece forward from 5.15pm to 3pm due to similar concerns, also favour a 3pm kick-off. It's believed neither authority are likely to consider a request from the BBC this year to move the games and they are now set for a ratings battle.