{"id":1237633,"date":"2021-12-13T11:21:48","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T11:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1237633"},"modified":"2022-12-05T15:11:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T15:11:56","slug":"champions-league-last-16-draw","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/champions-league-last-16-draw\/","title":{"rendered":"OFFICIAL: UEFA release statement after UCL draw controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

UEFA have confirmed the Champions League last-16 draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone after a “technical problem” occurred in the original showcase.<\/b><\/p>\n

Manchester United were controversially selected to face Villarreal as the draw’s ambassador Andrey Arshavin unveiled the names, but under UEFA’s rules, no team can be drawn against a club from their group or their own association.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Man Utd and Villarreal faced off in Group F of the Champions League, by definition they could be drawn against each other in the last-16. UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti quickly defused the situation by highlighting the error and Arshavin drew a new team.<\/p>\n

This time, Villarreal were drawn against Manchester City, and Man Utd came out last to face Paris Saint-Germain, but in the wake of the incident, and following several protests from clubs, UEFA have now confirmed the draw will be redone.<\/p>\n

A statement read<\/a>: “Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET.“<\/span><\/p>\n

Original fixture list in full:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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2021\/22 Champions League last-16 original draw<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Benfica<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nReal Madrid<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Villarreal<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nManchester City<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Atletico Madrid<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nBayern Munich<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Red Bull Salzburg<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nLiverpool<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inter Milan<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nAjax<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sporting CP<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nJuventus<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chelsea<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nLille<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PSG<\/strong><\/td>\nvs<\/b><\/td>\nManchester United<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

When will the Champions League last-16 take place?<\/h2>\n

The last 16 is scheduled for dates in February and March, with first legs and second legs taking place across two weeks.<\/p>\n

The first legs are set for 15\/16 and 22\/23 February 2022, with the return legs planned for 8\/9 and 15\/16 March 2022.<\/p>\n

The 2021\/22 Champions League final will take place Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia (the home of Zenit Saint Petersburg).<\/span><\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/strong><\/h2>\n