Arshavin blunder leaves Man Utd fans fuming over "rigged" Champions League draw

Former Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin has accidentally sparked a wave of fury from Manchester United fans who have accused the Champions League draw of being rigged.

The Russian football legend was brought in by UEFA to help conduct the draw that would determine the eight fixtures for the knock-out stages of the competition.

Having initially drawn Villarreal to face United, that particular tie had to be re-drawn given the two sides cannot face each other this early again in the tournament after being in the same group together.

Manchester City were then drawn to face the Spanish side instead.

Moments later, United's ball was not taken from their pot as potential opponents for Diego Simeone'sAtletico Madrid - when they should have been - meaning there was no chance of the Red Devils facing the Spaniards.

Giorgo Marchetti, overseeing the draw, also spoke at that moment and declared: "For Atletico Madrid, the possibilities are all except Liverpool, who were in the same group and Manchester United. Manchester United have already been drawn."

Of course, they hadn't been.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should UEFA re-do the draw? Comment below

Instead, United were drawn out at the end, the last team standing to face French giants Paris Saint-Germain, ensuring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will face off once again, for the first time at their new clubs.

Any pre-match discourse will undoubtedly be centred around both Messi and Ronaldo's meeting as well as a potential audition tie for PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has long been linked with the Old Trafford hot-seat on a permanent basis.

But if the draw stands - UEFA have told Mirror Football they are investigating - then it will do so amid accusations that European football's governing body deliberately teed up a PSG vs United tie

One United fan wrote on twitter: "Man United has been already draw to who???? When they separated them from being draw against Villarreal and Andrey Ashavin put us aside in other to pair us with PSG. Rigged draw."

Their sentiments were echoed by another member of the Red Devils faithful, who claimed: "Absolutely rigged!! They should redo the whole draw!!! This is the most elite European competition... surely they can't continue with this..."

One of the more optimistic United fans took the opportunity to both lambast UEFA but pledge his allegiance to Ronaldo in the process, writing: "Rigging Cristiano vs Messi to line up their pockets... Classic UEFA Predicted this a while back. But bring it on! Confident Cristiano will prove why he is the GOAT."

If things stay as they are, the complaints are unlikely to stop.