The Scottish FA Cup was played for the 96th time in 1980/81 . The most important Scottish football cup competition, which was directed by the Scottish Football Association, began on December 13, 1980 and ended with the repeat final on May 12, 1981 in Hampden Park in Glasgow . As the defending champion, Celtic Glasgow started the competition, which had prevailed against the Glasgow Rangers in the final of the previous year in the Old Firm derby . In the final of this year's cup, Rangers and Dundee United faced each other. The Rangers reached the finals for the sixth consecutive time since 1976 . It was also the 35th Gers final in the club's history since 1877 . It was United's second final after losing to Celtic in 1974 . The Rangers won after a 0-0 in the first final game, the replay final 4-1 against United . In addition to the final in the FA Cup , United also reached the final of the Scottish League Cup in 1980/81 . This won the team in the Dundee Derby against FC Dundee . In the final table of the Scottish Championship , the two finalists reached places three and five, Celtic Glasgow was the champion . The Rangers competed in the European Cup Winners' Cup the following season . There the team was eliminated from the competition in the second round against FK Dukla Prague from Czechoslovakia . United competed in the UEFA Cup the following season . After victories over AS Monaco , Borussia Mönchengladbach and KFC Winterslag , the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals against FK Radnički Niš from Yugoslavia .