Champions League Draw Controversy As Manchester United Appeared To Be Placed In Wrong Pot
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There was huge controversy in the Champions League round of 16 draw this morning as Manchester United appeared to be placed in the wrong pot.
At the official ceremony in Nyon, Switzerland, Villarreal's name was drawn and then former Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin picked out United's ball in scenes that were massively confusing for viewers watching.
Rules stipulate that the two sides could not face one another as they had already competed in the same group, with United finishing top and Villarreal coming second.
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Mass panic ensued, the ball was taken away and the draw moved on. Villarreal were then drawn against United's rivals Manchester City, before the Red Devils were paired with Paris Saint-Germain for an on-pitch reunion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
What's more, it appears as though United were not put in the bowl to draw Atletico Madrid despite there being no permutations preventing them.
And the events prompted reactions aplenty on social media, with some calling for the draw to be redone.
🎥 Video footage showing that Manchester United's ball for #UCLdraw — in the second pot from the right, back row — was not included in the Atletico Madrid draw #mufc #mujournal
— United Journal (@theutdjournal) December 13, 2021
[@mjcritchley]pic.twitter.com/5NzLxDeGl8
Why did you eliminate #MUFC as a possible opponent for Atletico, @ChampionsLeague? And how inccompetent was your team to include the @ManUtd ball into the pot to draw Villarreal? Shouldn't that have been known beforehand?
— Rangnick's Stan🇲🇼 (@_M0rt0n) December 13, 2021
Lmao, I've never seen such a blatantly fixed draw! Everyone knows teams in the same group can't be drawn together in the knockouts, yet Manchester United was in the pot for Villarreal!😂
— The Red Devil (@TheRedDevil205) December 13, 2021
Messi vs Ronaldo makes for great marketing too! Well done @UEFA #ChampionsLeagueDraw
The "draw is rigged" brigade might have their strongest shout today more than any other time..
— Derrick X (@DerrickAshimwe) December 13, 2021
Why was Manchester United there twice?
Also...after the null Man Utd Villarreal draw....why was Man Utd not in the pot for the Atletico Madrid Draw?
Something's fishy
Why were Manchester United blocked from facing Athletico Madrid? They said they were already drawn but they were still in the draw 🤔🙃#UCLdraw #UCL pic.twitter.com/VPy6OP36L7
— . (@TKO617) December 13, 2021
Correct me if I’m wrong, doesn’t the draw have to be done again because United’s ball were INCORRECTLY not put in the draw to face Atletico Madrid? @TelegraphDucker @hirstclass @samuelluckhurst#UCLdraw
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) December 13, 2021
#UCLdraw Manchester United (third pot from the right) omitted from the draw against Athletico Madrid? @UEFA why? pic.twitter.com/9DPAqK1NBx
— Martin Irvine (@IrvineMartin) December 13, 2021
If Manchester United were left out of the pot for Atletico Madrid, there’s a pretty good chance the Champions League draw will have to be redone. #UCL
— Louis Dangoor (@TheLouisDangoor) December 13, 2021
When Atletico Madrid was drawn out - they did not choose #MUFC for the other pot and stated “Manchester United have already been drawn”
— Z (@zeeshanclvx) December 13, 2021
That was a joke 🤣
Great example today of uefa fixing draws, love the change to watch Ronaldo and Messi against each other in a knockout competition potentially for the last time. But leaving Manchester United out of Atl. Madrid pot on purpose is crooked. #redraw #UCL
— Patrick O'Brien (@Patrickob32) December 13, 2021
How the hell are you it contesting that farce!! United weren’t in the correct pots when they should have been!!
— ⚽David McCarthy (@DMcCARTHYMUFC) December 13, 2021
Rigged for the money draw Messi v Ronaldo
Some controversy for the Champions League draw. When it came to Villarreal, Manchester United were included in the pot and Bayern Munich were accidentally left out. After Man Utd were mistakenly drawn, Villarreal only had six options left. They should have had seven. #UCLdraw
— Jamie Kemble (@JamieKemble) December 13, 2021
UEFA have since confirmed they will redo the draw at 2pm after the controversy following a series of complaints lodged by the clubs involved.
Liverpool were drawn against Red Salzburg, with Chelsea taking on French champions Lille in the first knockout round.
Benfica will play Real Madrid, while Atletico square off against Bayern Munich after sneaking into the round of 16.
Here is the draw in full:
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Villarreal vs Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Red Bull Salzburg vs Liverpool
Inter Milan vs Ajax
Sporting vs Juventus
Chelsea vs Lille
PSG vs Manchester United
First legs will be played on 15 or 16 and 22 or 23 February, with the second lot of fixtures taking place on 8 or 9 and 15 or 16 March.
The away goal will not be in play this season, meaning ties go to extra time if not decided in 180 minutes.
Featured Image Credit: Image: BT Sport
Topics: Manchester United, Villarreal, Champions League, UEFA
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