Fears for Scottish Cup as Hearts, Hibs, Celtic and Aberdeen fans are left wondering what might have been

Supporters should have been heading to Hampden this Easter weekend for the semi-finals

Hearts and Hibs should have been playing in a Hampden semi-final this Easter weekend. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

It is a self-destructive and not to say pointless exercise to continually sit and ponder where we might otherwise be were it not for the current lockdown.

But it is particularly hard to avoid reflecting on what might have been on Scottish Cup semi-final weekend. Some of those reading this on Saturday morning might well be imagining wrapping a maroon and white or green and white scarf around their neck before taking whatever form of transport chosen to make the journey to Hampden Park.

Yes, today was when the Edinburgh derby was meant to pack up its box of delights and decamp to Glasgow again.

For the neutral sportswriter, it was an equally enticing prospect – indeed, perhaps more so than for supporters. Fans torturing themselves with thoughts of ‘if only’ 
can at least console themselves knowing they are free of the attendant dread of their side losing as they go about their business this afternoon.

Both Hearts and Hibs – and Celtic and Aberdeen for that matter – are still in the cup. The prospect of reporting on these games also remains alive. But of course, everyone would have preferred this to have happened this weekend.

The news that the SFA were set to trial VAR at the semi-finals is further reason to wish everything was different and today’s papers were full of previews of the match and interviews with old heroes. Imagine the drama of a late winner hinging on the say-so of a referee wired up to monitors in a caravan parked outside the Hampden main stand. It doesn’t bear thinking about actually. Maybe we’re better stuck at home.

It was a chance to forget league form in the case of Hearts. Hibs, meanwhile, were looking forward to the opportunity to really ignite their season.

The three league clashes between the Edinburgh sides this season have all been won by the away side. Hibs, having come out of the hat second, would gladly have made their way to the away dressing room.

It was a new stage for the rivalry
between Jack Ross and Daniel
Stendel to be played out upon after several meetings in assorted towns and grounds over the last 16 months. The current score, including Barnsley v Sunderland fixtures, is Ross 2 Stendel 1 with one draw.

Who knows when the teams will next have the chance to go head to head? Hearts might do so as a Championship club if the Scottish Cup semi-final is ever played.

It’s notable that for all the noise about curtailing the league season there has been precious little said of late about the fate of the outstanding Scottish Cup ties. A statement from the joint response group released on 17 March confirmed a commitment to “completing the competition at the appropriate time, in front of spectators”. A pledge was also made to “consider future dates for the cup ties when the situation becomes clearer”.

It’s only three games, including the final, of course. There’s no rush and little need – mercifully
 – for boards to start imposing arbitrary deadlines prior to which clubs must cast votes about what happens next. That’s the preserve of the SPFL. We should be grateful that this body does not also have the power to “curtail” the Scottish Cup and award the old trophy to Celtic on the grounds that they have won the last three.

But at the same time, despite the commitment above, the fear is these matches may never get played. Will the Scottish Cup campaign of 2019-20 be left to hang in the air for ever without ever reaching a conclusion or will these last ties be squeezed in to herald the new season, whenever that is, as has been suggested?

As the forecasts about when football can start again get ever gloomier, this special weekend in the calendar prompts one to wonder what happens next with the oldest competition of them all.