A seemingly innocuous announcement by Bristol City has provoked a vitriolic response from Leeds United supporters, fuelling the rivalry between the two clubs.
On Tuesday the Robins announced they would be on the eve of their season opener against the Yorkshire club.
Fans will be able to watch Lee Johnson put his squad through their paces for free at 10am on Tuesday, July 30 - five days before they host Marcelo Bielsa's side.
However, rather than see the event as an innocent opportunity for City followers to get up close to their heroes, a number of Leeds supporters have perceived it as a dig at their club following the 'Spygate' controversy last season.
Bielsa and his team were reprimanded for sending a member of staff to 'spy' on a Derby County training session in January ahead of their 2-0 win over the Rams.
Of course, an open training session suggests Bielsa would have no need to carry out a reconnaissance mission, but it could just be coincidental with the Robins likely to hold their pre-season media day on the same day and combine all of their pre-match access and activities into one occasion.
It is not the first time City have hosted a opening training session before the curtain-raiser either, with the most recent in 2017. They also held one for fans in Florida just two weeks ago.
Whatever the truth may be, Leeds fans were not impressed by the Robins' announcement.
Paul Herbert: Sad and pathetic.
Ron: Lee Johnson’s little man syndrome strikes again bless him.
TheStraw: After all their gurning over it last season, Why?
Dskimcbski: Lee Johnson acting the big ‘un again I see.
Sean Hill: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is because of the spying thing, right? Wow, that’s so clever and witty. What massive funsters you lot are! Hohohoho.
Scott Lamb: Trying to gain exposure on the back of #lufc Can’t wait to turn them over AGAIN.
EnochWellPlaced: Yet another demonstration of supreme intellectual wit from Lee Johnson, king of comedy.
David Wainwright: We will be in the bushes.
Peter McCay: I can’t wait to hear all Johnson’s funny jokes once they’ve been given a beating.
The Yorkshire Pirlo: Lansdown really doesn't want anyone to forgot does he. Embarrassing really.
David Hillerby: And? Is this little lee Johnson trying to be relevant by doing something totally irrelevant? Get over it.
This is the latest flashpoint in an increasingly venomous rivalry between the two clubs.
Bristol City majority share holder Steve Lansdown called for the Whites to be deducted points following the admission of the Argentine manager that he had sent a member of staff to collect information on Frank Lampard's team ahead of the league encounter.
Prior to that, Bielsa's team won 0-1 at Ashton Gate but following an away fan being ejected from the home end, Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani tweeted his displeasure with the supporter's treatment and linked it with Lansdown's call to dock points.
The EFL also altered their rules in the wake of the 'Spygate' affair, with the ruling that: “No clubs shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another club’s training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match scheduled to be played between those respective clubs.”
The open training session falls just before this.
City face Leeds United in their first game of the season on Sunday 4 August with the match heading for a sell-out.
