Because of local time and weather conditions, Spartak's home games start at 5pm our time.

So, room for ITV (or Carlton at least) to show our game as well as Leeds vs Real Madrid later that evening? No, once again they let us down. The game will only be on the OnDigital/cable channel ITV2.

Funny how they give preference to showing the home games, the games which many people can actually go to. Actually, not funny at all...

See this AFCi page, where they seem to be somewhat over-excited about the fact that Barry Venison is going to be on the show.

Anyone who gets a feeling of deja-vu when we point out that

• in the first phase of this year's CL, whenever national ITV chose to show Man Utd instead of Leeds Utd, Yorkshire TV (the Carlton equivalent for Leeds's region) chose to go against the national decision and show Leeds.
• Carlton have failed to make similar decisions in favour of Arsenal for the last 3 years.
• Carlton have a stake in OnDigital, who are the only carriers of ITV2 for people without cable.

The Carlton website has a feedback form and other contact details (phone works best) and Football Fans Against Carlton has more info on the annual fiasco and how to complain.