United were eventually drawn against Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA are facing calls to redraw the Champions League last 16 over what appeared to be an error involving Manchester United’s ball.
United were originally paired with Villarreal in Monday’s draw but had already faced the Spanish side in the group stage and could not play them again in the next round as a result. While City were subsequently pulled out to face the Europa League winners, United’s ball did not appear to be put back in the section pot, as many viewers pointed out on Twitter.
United, therefore, missed out on being a potential opponent for Atletico Madrid and, to make matters worse for Ralf Rangnick’s side, were eventually handed arguably the worst draw they could have got – against Paris Saint-Germain.
Footage showing the supposed error has been widely shared on social media in the time since the draw was made.
It definitely looks like #mufc’s ball – in the second pot from the right, back row – was not included in the Atletico Madrid draw. pic.twitter.com/ubxQHdjkQV
— Mark Critchley (@mjcritchley) December 13, 2021
Many have expressed surprise that the draw was allowed to go ahead afterwards, with some stating that a redraw had to be done to atone for the error.
Don't see how UEFA can let this draw stand. Man Utd were by mistake omitted from the draw against Atletico Madrid.
— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) December 13, 2021
Can't see how Man Utd's ball, once drawn in error, couldn't have been put back into the relevant pot, enabling them to be potentially drawn against Atletico #MUFC #ChampionsLeague
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) December 13, 2021
The draw was far kinder to the other three English sides. Along with City facing Villarreal, Liverpool were drawn with RB Salzburg while Chelsea, who finished second in their group, got Lille.
The draw for the 2021/22 Champions League round of sixteen 🌟 pic.twitter.com/0DDeuIRR1G
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 13, 2021
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney said that early indications from within UEFA suggested that the initial draw will be permitted to stand despite the controversy. It may, he later pointed out, come down to if any of the affected clubs wished to make a complaint.
Next question is whether clubs affected – which would directly be United, PSG, Bayern, Atletico, but by extension most of the 16 – want to lodge a complaint.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 13, 2021
Related links:
- Man United record a number of positive Covid tests following Norwich victory
- Rangnick won’t convince players to stay at Manchester United if they wish to leave
- Victor Lindelof taken off after ‘struggling to breathe’, says Ralf Rangnick
