The tournament consists of 8 or 9 rounds. The draw is held according to the elimination system. At each stage, the winner of each pair is determined by the result of one match. In the first rounds, the game takes place on the field of one of the opponents; if the match ends in a draw, a replay is carried out on the field of another team. Semifinals and finals take place in a neutral field (usually at Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow ); if in the main time the game ends in a draw, an additional 30 minutes are appointed, if necessary, a penalty shootout . Third Division clubs enter the fight in the second round. Clubs of the Second Division and 6 clubs of the First Division begin with the third round. Premier League clubs and 4 clubs of the First Division (who took 2-4 places in the previous season and dropped out of the Premier League) enter the fight at the 1/16 final stage (fourth round).
The winner received the right to participate in the Cup Winners' Cup , and after its abolition in 1999 - in the UEFA Cup (since 2009 the Europa League ). If the winner of the Scottish Cup has already secured his participation in the Champions League due to his place in the championship, this right passed to the Cup finalist. Since the 2008/2009 season, in such situations, a ticket to the Europa League will be awarded to the team that won the highest place in the Premier League and does not qualify it for European competition.
Scotland