Organizers of the Champions League draw have introduced a new draw format that relies on a software program to ensure efficiency and security from potential hacking attempts. The software program, designed by English firm AE Live, will facilitate the creation of match pairings for the 36-team, single-league setup that has replaced the traditional group stage format.

UEFA officials have taken measures to safeguard the draw process and ensure its integrity, especially after facing challenges such as a “supply chain attack” post the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite the skepticism and conspiracy theories surrounding the transparency of UEFA competition draws in the past, UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti expressed confidence in AE Live’s technology, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to a fair and secure draw process.

The new Champions League format, featuring 36 teams competing against eight different opponents, would have made a manual draw with traditional balls and bowls impractical due to the numerous possible pairings. To address this complexity, the software program will swiftly determine match pairings by selecting balls from different seeded team bowls.

Marchetti reassured stakeholders that the software’s rapid response time leaves no room for external interference, ensuring a transparent and efficient draw process. This modern approach aims to streamline the draw ceremony, preventing disruptions experienced in past events, such as the unexplained moaning noises during the men’s European Championship draw ceremony in December.

With the new software-driven draw process in place, UEFA aims to enhance the Champions League experience while maintaining the integrity and fairness of the competition.