Manchester City has complained to the local BBC radio station about the reporting about the club.
Officials at the Etihad Stadium were stunned when no dedicated City reporter from BBC Radio Manchester was present at the pre-derby press conference, which they say is the first time such an event has taken place in living memory.
The broadcaster has the rights to City matches and the club is usually covered by the broadcaster's own City journalist.
However, that reporter has been regularly diverted in recent times, while others have been brought in to cover the club, in a way that has left those at City scratching their heads.
They believe that no other top team has suffered the same treatment and that listeners who support the club are missing out as a result. The lack of a City reporter at the derby preview was seen as the final straw.
It is understood that City have now contacted Radio Manchester to make their feelings clear on the matter.
Rights deals are seen as valuable for local BBC stations across the country. Radio Manchester, for example, does not have a similar deal with Manchester United.
The BBC declined to comment, although insiders insisted no 'official complaint' had been made, even though Mail Sport believes there has been.
They added that they are covering City 'as much as usual', along with fixtures, and said there was a City and United commentator for the derby, as is the norm.
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