Co-operative Insurance Cup final - Celtic v Rangers
Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, 20 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One Scotland from 1430, streamed live on BBC Sport website & BBC Radio Scotland live commentary. Updates on Radio 5 live & live text commentary on BBC Sport website

By Chick Young BBC Scotland football reporter

The decent thing to do would be to indulge in a moment's silence for the passing of an excellent sponsorship.

The Co-operative Insurance company apply their name to the League Cup for the last time this Sabbath, and in the wake of the Old Firm final, Scottish football will have two of its three major competitions without financial backers.

Worrying - is it not?

However, the reality is that supporters of Celtic and Rangers, and the millions of other global rubberneckers who will salivate at the prospect of more car crash football, will give the dear old Co-op not a passing thought.

Old Firm representatives attended a summit with the First Minister

Welcome once more to the insanity zone.

Something has to give this time - quite apart from the usual grip on reality. The first domestic prize of the season is up for grabs, although given the sheer fervour of some supporters you would think they were fighting for life itself.

They'll all be watching - the police, the politicians, the psychologists, the apoplectic and the apologists. Few, though, will be apathetic.

Only the best behaviour will do: from players and management, to supporters and the match officials.

Pretend, gentlemen, that you are on a wee Sunday afternoon visit to your granny's house; show a bit of respect.

Strathclyde Police are serious about their mission statement here. Their summit with the First Minister and his cronies was a reaction that was more than a shade over-the-top, but it was quite the most clear warning shot across the bows of the game, for all that.

It was the chief constable's tap on the shoulder.

Of course, it's double standards.

El Hadji-Diouf's petted lip, Majid Boughera's curious attempt to get the referee to re-pocket his red card, and the squaring up of messrs McCoist and Lennon in what looked like an invitation to meet behind the sheds after school, were moments of lunacy.

But were they worse than, say, the pitch invasion at the Birmingham City v Aston Villa tie in the Carling Cup quarter-final?

I think not.

And yet it would be lunacy to ignore the evil in the air that is born of darker reasons than the old game of football.

Sadly, bigotry has attached itself like a leech to the national sport.

Those who think that an Old Firm game is life and death may want to call a taxi for planet earth.

I suggest they look in the direction of smitten Japan where real disaster and tragedy has ripped a nation asunder.

This - trust me - is only a game.

Who will win it? Celtic will… at least, if it is about energy and players.

Lennon's touchline ban includes Sunday's trip to Hampden

Neil Lennon's side have pace and rhythm and style and, in Beram Kayal and Emilio Izaguirre, have uncovered extraordinary signings.

What can Rangers offer? A remarkable doggedness and determination and a ridiculous desire to embrace the League Cup, that's what.

Even nine men in blue jerseys were too much for St Mirren a year ago.

It could be a long shift, I'll give you that. Extra-time and penalties maybe.

But when all is said and done I suspect that Lennon's seat in the stand will have him handily placed to see his captain accept - on his behalf - his first trophy as manager of Celtic.

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