The Champions League last-16 draw is set to be redrawn after a ‘technical problem’ saw Manchester United pitted against group rivals Villarreal, and omitted from being drawn against Atletico Madrid.
SportmailUEFA has announced that they will re-draw the drawing at 2pm UK time. This is after United and Atletico asked for clarification from the governing body about a few errors in Monday’s initial draw.
The drawing for the next round took place first in Nyon, Switzerland. Former Arsenal star Andriy Archavin was charged with drawing 16 additional teams.
After Man United was drawn twice, the Champions League draw became chaotic.
Andriy Arshavin drew United out of a pot given to him by UEFA chief Michael Heselschwerdt
Giorgio Marchetti (L), intervened to state that United couldn’t be drawn against Villarreal
Final 16: The Red Devils won against French powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain
After United had been drawn against Villarreal, UEFA Chief Giorgio Marchetti intervened. After finishing top in Group F, which included Villarreal Young Boys and Atalanta, United was qualified to the knockout stages of the competition.
The last 16 are forbidden for teams that had faced one another during the group stage. There was much confusion when Arshavin took United out of the pot, after Marchetti had chosen Villarreal.
Marchetti stated, “No, it’s not possible, Manchester United was already in the group, so we have to draw another one.” Marchetti stated that Manchester United had played in the Villarreal group so must be paired up with another team.
Arshavin chose Manchester City’s archrivals United to play against Unai Emir’s Europa League losers early next year.
United already had played Villarreal Spanish side in the group stage, so they couldn’t be matched again
United were accidentally left out of the pot for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid
Michael Heselschwerdt was UEFA’s Head for Club Competitions. He had to provide the right balls for Arshavin, according to an ‘external provider’. United was also included in the pot.
The pot had seven balls, but there should have been 5. Real Madrid, United and other teams were wrongly added. The last-16 is also not possible for teams from the same country.
United was also wrongly excluded from the pot in order to play Atletico Madrid, who were drawn against Bayern Munich. Liverpool was drawn against Atletico Madrid in the group stage.
UEFA revealed later that the problem was due to a technical error’. A ‘external services provider’ had instructed the officials about which teams could be drawn. The draw will therefore be reworked.
Now, there is confusion about whether or not the draw will again be taken after these farcical scenes
UEFA reported that there had been a “technical problem” with an external software provider’s instructions to the officials regarding which teams were eligible.
“This means that the draw is null. It will now be completely redone at 1500 CET.
The Red Devils then drew against Paris Saint-Germain. This was a fascinating clash in which Cristiano Ronaldo will face off against Lionel Messi. However, it is uncertain if the draw will be sustained.
Atletico stated on Twitter: ‘We’re in discussions with UEFA in order to get explanations and a resolution after the errors in the Champions League Round of 16 draw.
Redrawing could have major implications for other sides that were not affected. Real Madrid, who had been drawn against Benfica, have requested that they be redrawn. redraw take place after they were pitted against the Portuguese sideYou can’t blame them, because the mistakes have been made since then.
Stay tuned for more.
