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Manchester City have been left red-faced after an advertisement appeared for social media influencers to promote Champions League matches at the Etihad.

A post on an app called Tribe, a way of connecting brands to people with social media followings, appeared asking for 18-55 year-old male "Mancunians and/or Man City fans" to produce content that is "fan-centric which has an element of FOMO [fear of missing out] at its core" that "showcases the electrifying atmosphere that only Champions League live football matches can deliver".

The ad explained: "The Champions League draw this year has given us 3 relatively unknown teams meaning our core fans are less likely to attend...We want to get across the great atmosphere of the Etihad through the use of influencers who can tell an authentic and genuine story of what it's like to be at the game."

City sources insist that the advertisement was produced without the knowledge or permission of anyone at the club, posted by an agency they have worked with before onto Tribe - who have no connection with the Blues. The MEN understands the club took action to get the post removed as soon as they were made aware of it, and it is understood that the action has gone down so badly at the Etihad that the relationship with the agency is now under review.

There are also no plans to work with Tribe in the future either, it is understood.

Pep Guardiola has regularly called on the fans to show that they want to win the Champions League, having asked in vain when he arrived for supporters not to boo the anthem. Both home games in this season's group have attracted attendances of close to 50,000.

City won 5-1 on Tuesday night against Atalanta to move to nine points after three games of their group. Victory in Italy in a fortnight will confirm their place in the knockout stages.