UEFA to redo Champions League draw after investigating Man Utd blunder

UEFA will perform the Champions League last 16 draw all over again after a major cock-up.

Manchester United were drawn against Villarreal, which was against competition rules, given both were paired together in the group stage.

Villarreal were then drawn against Manchester City, but United's ball was not put back into the relevant pot, enabling them to not be drawn against Atletico Madrid, who were the next team picked out.

Giorgio Marchetti, overseeing the draw, could be heard to say: "For Atletico Madrid, the possibilities are all except Liverpool, who were in the same group and Manchester United. Manchester United have already been drawn."

A senior UEFA source told Mirror Football they were looking into the episode and whether the draw must be performed again, to preserve the integrity of the competition.

Atletico Madrid, who had been draw against one of the tournament favourites, Bayern Munich, confirmed: "We are in talks with UEFA to ask for explanations and a solution after the mistakes made in the Champions League round of 16 draw."

"This is unbelievable," declared Michael Owen on Twitter. "Will UEFA redo the whole draw or just pick it up from when the mistake was made?

"Either way, if a mistake was made it surely has to be done again?

And duly, UEFA confirmed that the draw would be redone, rendering the initial draw null and void.

European football's governing body declared: "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."

"As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be entirely redone at 1500 CET (2pm UK time)."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes UEFA has made the correct decision to repeat the draw.

Speaking at a press conference to preview his side's game with Leeds on Tuesday, Guardiola said: "I think it is fair. It was a mistake but sometimes these things can happen.

"If there was a mistake you have to repeat so it is not suspicious."

The initial draw had also seen Liverpool paired with Salzburg, with defending champions Chelsea due to face Lille.

Inter Milan were drawn against Ajax, Benfica with Real Madrid, and Sporting Lisbon were set to meet Juventus.