UEFA Cancels Champions League Draw Following Technical Error

UEFA have officially confirmed that the 2021/22 UCL Round of 16 draw is no longer valid, after determining a set of mistakes in the draw process.

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.

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2021

First mistake was UEFA drawing Manchester United with Villareal despite the two clubs sharing the same group during the group stages.

Also, Manchester United were not sharing the same pot with Atletico for the draw.

Meanwhile following procedure, the Red Devils, due to topping their group and not existing in the same country as Atletico Madrid, should have been part of Atletico’s draw options.

Moreover, Liverpool after sharing a group with Atletico Madrid for the group stage, were seeded in the same pot as the La Liga defending champions.

On the other hand Real Madrid and Villareal, who originate from Spain were seeded in the same pot.

UEFA regulations indicate that clubs from the same country cannot share a pot for the round of 16 draw.

The new draw will take place at 14:00 GMT.