FANS were left baffled by the Europa League draw, with some even going as far as to claim it was rigged.
In a bizarre start to proceedings, the teams’ balls were lined up before magician Mario Daniel ‘made them all disappear’.
ReutersThe Europa League balls were lined up in front of a magician[/caption]
ReutersMagician Mario Daniel then ‘made them all disappear’[/caption]
AFPThe ties were then drawn by Chelsea legend Eden Hazard at the push of a button[/caption]
And Uefa then revealed that the draw would take place in a fully-digital format, as the Champions League had a day earlier.
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard was put in charge of pressing the ‘magic button’ to draw the ties.
But to speed things up, the teams in Pots 2, 3 and 4 learned their entire draw with the push of a button.
And supporters lined up to share their views of the rejigged draw.
One posted: “They put a magician in charge of the Europa League draw so there is no doubt that there may be cheating in the draw”
Another wrote: “Just tuned into the Europa League draw and appear to be watching a magic show. completely lost here”
And a third commented: “”Software” to make the Europa League draw? That doesn’t sound rigged at all.”
And a fourth stated: “Watching the Europa League Draw and before everything starts there is a magic trick involving the balls. Good advert for the draw being fixed”
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None of the supporters offered any proof for suggestions that the draw may be rigged.
Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa were handed two trips to the Netherlands to face Feyenoord and Go Ahead Eagles.
The Villans will also face Salzburg, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys and Bologna at home and Fenerbahce and Basel away.
Nottingham Forest, who were set to play in the Conference League before Crystal Palace were demoted, have also learned their fate.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will face Ferencvaros, Porto and FC Midtjylland at home.
And they will also welcome Malmo in a repeat of the 1979 European Cup final, which they won 1-0.
The East Midlanders will visit Real Betis, Braga, Sturm Graz and Utrecht.
The Conference League draw then followed as Crystal Palace, who were demoted from the Europa League due to multi-club ownership, learned their opposition.
The Eagles will play at home to AZ Alkmaar, KuPS Kuopio and AEK Larnaca.
And they will visit Dynamo Kyiv, Crystal Palace and Shelbourne.
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