(Paris) The draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League was biased by a “technical problem”, admitted Monday the UEFA, which canceled the confrontations drawn by lot and decided to start from zero the procedure at 3 p.m. .
Two hiccups during the draw sowed doubt on the validity of the procedure, causing a long hesitation at the end of which the European body ruled in favor of an annulment of the draw, which had given rise in particular to a shock Paris SG -Manchester United or an Atlético Madrid-Bayern Munich poster.
“Following a technical problem with the software of one of the external service providers which indicates to the officials which teams can compete, a material error occurred during the draw of the 8es final. The draw is therefore considered null and will be completely redone at 3 p.m., ”said UEFA in a press release sent to AFP.
A first error came to light, when Villarreal fired Manchester United, when the English club were not to be among their potential opponents, since the two teams were in the same group during the group stage.
The images also show that the Manchester United ball was forgotten when forming the bowl of potential opponents Atlético Madrid.
Imbroglio
The “Red Devils” finally inherited Paris SG, one of the most difficult draws for them.
The Madrilenians, them, of Bayern Munich, another of the scarecrows of the competition.
The Spanish club immediately asked UEFA for “explanations”, demanding a “solution” to this imbroglio.
“We have asked UEFA for explanations and we will see what they will tell us,” a spokesperson for the “Colchoneros” told AFP shortly before the decision of the European body to proceed with a new draw.
On social networks, many reactions have pointed out these irregularities and denounced the procrastination of UEFA, put under pressure in recent months by a rapidly aborted project of an almost closed “Super League” bringing together the largest clubs on the continent.
” It’s incredible ! ! ! Will UEFA start the entire draw over or only resume when the mistake was made? “, Asked the former England international Michael Owen on Twitter.
It is therefore time for a new draw, which perhaps opens the door to new disputes, in particular from the clubs best served in the first draw, such as Real Madrid, one of the spearheads of the “Super League”. European, which had inherited from Benfica Lisbon.
What will be the new draw for Messi’s Paris SG, who were initially due to face the Manchester United of their great rival Cristiano Ronaldo? And which ball will finally pull Chelsea, defending champion, who should have challenged Lille, the champion of France?
Response at 3 p.m. in Nyon, at UEFA headquarters, at the end of a recent unprecedented imbroglio in nearly 70 years of European competition history.