Champions League draw to be ’entirely redone’ after ’material error’

Fans were looking forward to Manchester United's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo meeting PSG’s Lionel Messi in the last 16. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

Fans were looking forward to Manchester United's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo meeting PSG’s Lionel Messi in the last 16. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

Published Dec 13, 2021

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Paris - The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League is to be "entirely redone" after a technical error, European football's governing body Uefa said on Monday.

Uefa blamed a "material error" due to a "technical problem with the software of an external service provider" as it announced that the draw for the first knockout round of its flagship competition would be redone at 16:00 SA time.

“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 tweeted from the @ChampionsLeague account on Twitter.

“As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone.”

ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi renew rivalry in Champions League last 16

In the first draw, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were paired together, with fans looking forward to a duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Six-times former winners Bayern Munich were set to play Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.

AFP