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Have BT Sport got a problem with Manchester City?

Fans of a blue persuasion certainly think so - and it is theory that is gaining momentum.

A breaking point came in April when the broadcaster issued literature promoting their Champions League semi-final coverage – only to make no reference to City - England’s only remaining participants.

The head of BT Sport, Simon Greene, issued a Twitter apology shortly after.

A bizarre oversight or something more sinister?

City fans suspect there’s more to it.

The regular blue-bashing from their largely red-coloured panel of experts hasn’t helped relations.

Rio Ferdinand accused City fans of failing to inspire the team moments after the club had qualified for the semi-finals of Europe’s elite knock-out competition.

It felt like a negative slant on a genuinely momentous achievement for an English side – while Steve McManaman, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen have gone in with both feet time and again.

Ferdinand openly admitted he wanted City to lose during coverage of their quarter-final tie with PSG.

And conspiracy theorists had a field day last week when BT showed back-to-back highlights of every FA Cup final since the 80s – with the exception of City’s 1-0 win over Stoke in 2011 that saw the club end its 35-year wait for a major trophy.

Yet another innocent gaffe?

It’s becoming a lengthy rap sheet and the City fans aren’t pleased.

The broadcaster has now responded, having this to say about why the Stoke cup final game was missed off.

“BT Sport take its responsibility as a broadcaster extremely seriously and aims to deliver top quality live sports coverage to its viewers. We always try to take a fair view of the teams and the competitions which we broadcast.

“Last week BT Sport showed a number of classic FA Cup Finals back to back in the run up to the Emirates FA Cup Final on Saturday evening. We apologise that Manchester City v Stoke City was not shown on Thursday, however it was shown on BT Sport on Saturday.”

It remains to be seen if City fans will be convinced by that explanation.