Judge in Man City's 115 charges case is an Arsenal fan and will be replaced soon

Manchester City and Arsenal belong to two warring factions within the Premier League sometimes referred to by the more conspiratorial minded on social media as the “blue cartel” and the “red cartel.”

Broadly speaking, Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa are in one corner. They see themselves as the Premier League’s persecuted outsiders.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Tottenham and, depending on which way the wind is blowing that day, a smattering of other peripheral clubs, are the opposition. The greedy fat cats. The establishment.

Of course, the reality is that both characterisations are far too reductive. Plus, the colours don’t even work.

But make no mistake, both sides of the lawfare that has gripped the Premier League in recent months and years believe the narrative they have spun for themselves.

The centrepiece of the civil war is, of course Manchester City’s trial for 115 charges, which was wrapped up earlier this month after a 12-week process.

The independent commission overseeing the hearing has now retired to consider its verdict, with a decision expected early next year.

Don’t expect a definitive outcome any time soon, however. City and the Premier League both have the right to appeal, with some legal experts forecasting a final verdict may not emerge until next season.

As an aside, it’s actually 130 charges. The Premier League made a mistake in its initial briefing and now 115 has stuck in the media and among supporters.

In the background to the hearing, City struck a counterpunch with a partial victory in their challenge to the league’s Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules.

Arsenal gave evidence in favour of the Premier League in those arbitration proceedings, along with the other members of the so-called Red Cartel. And West Ham.

And while they collaborated on the European Super League, which has now resurfaced as the Unify League, the Gunners and City disagree on PSR, state ownership of clubs, and much more besides.

The North Londoners have also reserved the right to seek compensation if City are found guilty in the 115 charges case, citing lost commercial and prize money income.

These tensions simmered even before Mikel Arteta’s side became City’s main rivals for the title in the last two seasons, running them close in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.

All that is to say, the two clubs don’t like each other very much.

The tensions we saw on the pitch in Arsenal and Man City’s 2-2 dramatic draw in September were emblematic – or perhaps even symptomatic – of the animosity between the pair’s executives.

So when it emerged that one of the KCs overseeing the 115 charges case was a card carrying Arsenal fan, you can imagine how that went down with Khaldoon Al Mubarak and his peers in the City boardroom.

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Arsenal-supporting judge with role in 115 charges case to step down

There has been much made of Man City acquiring the services of Lord David Pannick, the superstar lawyer who on an hourly basis earns more than Erling Haaland, to fight their case

There has been slightly less attention given to the other side.

The lead barrister in the case who appointed the three members of the independent commission who will rule on the arguments made by City and the Premier League is Murray Rosen KC.

As well outlining a number of other sports interests and specialisms, Rosen’s 4 New Square profile page describes him as a ‘member of Arsenal’ FC. See the screenshot below.

It was reported in May last year that, among a number of other objections, City had taken umbrage with the fact that the barrister overseeing the case was a fan of a rival club.

Incidentally, Rosen will also appoint the appeals panel if the case reaches that stage, as is widely presumed it will.

However, if there were any tenuous questions about Rosen’s objectivity, City don’t need to worry about them for the appeals process, which would take place after January next year.

Rosen will soon step down as the Chair of the Premier League’s Judicial Panel at the end of his five-year term.

As detailed by Law In Sport, the Premier League is now accepting applications for Rosen’s successor, whose baptism of fire could be overseeing an appeal.

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Man City superstar lawyer Lord Pannick is an Arsenal fan too

While no one with any credentials was suggesting that Rosen was in any way compromised because of his allegiance to Arsenal, the fact that City’s main representative is a Gunner too is an amusing details.

Lord Pannick, one of the world’s best lawyers, was appointed to advocate for City having previously represented the likes of Boris Johnson and Sir Phillip Green.

Pannick was described as an ‘avid Arsenal fan’ in The Times’ Law 100 several years ago.

City have consistently denied all of the 130 charges against them and claim there is irrefutable evidence to support their position.