UEFA cancels and redoes Champions League draw after major blunders

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Aug 27, 2026, 1:09 PM

Last updated Aug 27, 2026

UEFA cancels and redoes Champions League draw after major blunders
Summary

On December 13, 2021, UEFA faced controversy during the Champions League round of 16 draw in Nyon. An incorrect inclusion of Manchester United's ball and a subsequent omission of a key ball led to mismatches, including Atlético de Madrid being incorrectly paired with Bayern Munich. Following significant backlash and a request for clarification from Atlético, UEFA declared the initial draw void. A second draw took place three hours later, completely reshaping the matchups, including a new pairing of Manchester United with Atlético de Madrid. This blunder stands as a notable example of the complexities involved in draw events.

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By the Numbers
  • Champions League draw error occurred on December 13, 2021.
  • Villarreal was mistakenly paired with Manchester City initially.
  • Atlético de Madrid's ball was omitted, leading to a wrong pairing.
  • UEFA scrapped the original draw and rescheduled it three hours later.
  • All matchups except Lille-Chelsea were changed in the redo.
Latest Updates
  • 1:09 PMYahoo SportsThe day UEFA had to cancel and redo the Champions League draw
What they're saying
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As the football world turns its attention to the Champions League draw this Thursday, August 27, 2026, it is impossible not to think back to one of the biggest blunders in the history of draws. One ex...

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