Manchester City have disputed the involvement of the Arsenal supporting barrister who is in charge of the disciplinary process against them after the club lodged legal challenges against the Premier League’s 115 charges for alleged rule breaches.

Just hours after City took a significant step towards a historic treble after thumping Real Madrid 4-0 to reach the Champions League final, news emerged that the club have stepped up efforts to fight the Premier League’s case.

City are believed to have challenged the involvement of Murray Rosen KC, the head of the Premier League’s independent judicial panel, as the person who appoints the chair of the disciplinary commission.

On his profile with 4 New Square Chambers, it states that Rosen is a “member of the MCC [Marylebone Cricket Club] and Arsenal FC”.

Under the rules, Rosen - whose Arsenal allegiance was seized upon by City fans when news of his involvement first surfaced earlier in the year - has the power to appoint himself as chair of the commission if he wishes. Rosen has been approached for comment by Telegraph Sport.

It is thought that City’s decision to lodge challenges against the 115 charges relates to recent changes in the Premier League rules.

The club are believed to argue that they should not apply to investigations into rule breaches alleged to have happened before then. City and the Premier League both declined to comment.

Legal experts have estimated that the case could take between two and four years to be resolved and the latest challenges could lead to further delays.

When the Premier League announced the charges in February, City said they would welcome the commission’s hearing as a chance to put allegations of financial impropriety that have dogged the club for years “to rest once and for all”. The club - who strongly deny wrongdoing - added that there was a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.”

The charges followed a four-year investigation by the Premier League. City could face an unprecedented range of punishments including a suspension, points deductions, sweeping fines and the ultimate sanction of expulsion from the league if found guilty.

The charges relating to financial reporting span nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. Additionally, City have been charged with not cooperating with the investigation and not handing over documents as required over a five-season period from 2018/19 to this season.

Some of the charges also pertain to the club allegedly failing to provide full details around their former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay during the 2012/13 season and not providing “full details of player remuneration in its relevant contracts with players” from 2010/11 to 2015/16, both of which are required under Premier League rules.

City were banned for two years from European competition by Uefa in 2020 for alleged breaches of their Financial Fair Play rules but the club successfully overturned that suspension in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). However, there will not be an option for City to appeal to Cas against any Premier League sanctions as the European court is not recognised by the clubs. Instead, City would have to pursue options via London law courts if it came to that