I saw part of the BT "pundits" but I don't watch it on BT or Sky if I can help it as a rule, even with streaming. Saw the part (On Facebook actually) in which, whilst at the home of said club, an ex City player notes of "all other English clubs - even Utd - should be cheering on the only English team left in the comp", which is met with a response you'd expect from a teenager in an argument with his mates on the playground, not from a pundit who's paid to be there. "Just like all City fans he's talking about Utd..." he said as he wiped the tear from his eye and took his ball home.
Found a stream for FS1 and was surprised. English commentary which for the most part remained unbiased to either team, willing City to go on and achieve our first semi final in the comp, and also bigging up PSG's chance to turn an unfortunate first leg (for them) into a positive and take our place.
Even after the game, it cut back to the studio. I knew Warren Barton and didn't know any of the other 3. One of them clearly wasn't happy with the result, of which the other three openly mocked him (in a light hearted manner) for showing bias and telling him to get on with his segment. But..... the guy just got on with it, like a professional pundit. No snide remarks, no downplaying either team (or talking about "empty seats" or any of that irrelevant shite), just did his job that's he's paid (well paid... I assume) to do.
Then I look on BT sports (streamed naturally) after match coverage, see an ex City player no less who has no affiliate to the opposition for a change. But what do I see? I see a sour faced camel struggle to muster any form of compliment towards an English team achieving their first semi-final in the Champions League. I instead here every possible reason from us not deserving to qualify into the last 16 as we were "too open", to "lack of atmosphere", before a begrudgingly acceptance that we've qualified.
If there was any doubt from anyone whatsoever who thought the English Media don't want City to succeed I implore them to go watch a game on an American or Canadian channel. It'll open your eyes.
BT should hang their heads in shame at the coverage for tonight's match. Granted, I didn't watch it aside from a few snippets, but the small bits I saw (and what I have read here) was enough to tell me to rhetoric chosen (one that's often used) when City play on TV was shameful for a supposed "unbiased" Sports broadcaster.
