Roma sparked controversy ahead of the UEFA Champions League draw on Friday 13 April.
The Giallorossi reportedly put up tickets for the Liverpool – Roma Champions League clash ahead of the draw.
The website error was taken down swiftly, but not before some supporters took a screenshot of the page, reported the Daily Mail.
The incident sparked a social media storm as fans claimed the draw had been fixed.
If Liverpool get Roma then it’s fixed 100%.
There’s pieces of evidence to back it too.
— ? (@UsmanA__) April 12, 2018
I fucking told you all it’s fixed #UCLDraw #liverpool #roma pic.twitter.com/dnmf5Ws5Qq
— Elliot (@Verrattiiiiiiii) April 13, 2018
So. Roma knew yesterday that they’d be playing Liverpool as they advertised tickets on their website. But it’s not fixed of course.
— PrestwichBlue (@PrestwichBlue) April 13, 2018
UEFA insisted that allegations that the draw was fixed were ridiculous and completely denied the rumors.
See More: Was Cengiz Under Right To Pick Roma Over Man City?
A Uefa spokesman told Omnisport: “The Italian club contacted Uefa to say they had a technical problem on their ticketing portal partner when they were making ticketing tests.”
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter claimed in 2016 that some European football draws have been fixed in the past with the use of hot and cold balls.
UEFA described the claims as being “completely absurd”, while the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, assured fans the draw will not be manipulated.
“There’s no truth to that,” Chris Unger, FIFA’s director of competitions, said in response to speculation about the use of warmer or colder plastic balls.
Turkey international Cengiz Under provided the assist that took Roma through against Barcelona on away goals in the quarter-finals.
Under and Liverpool midfielder Emre Can are the two remaining players of Turkish origin left in the Champions League.
