Joe Hart backs Khaldoon Al Mubarak after Premier League ruling
Joe Hart said he trusts Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak over the Premier League’s decision that found the club guilty of the majority of 115 financial breaches, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club on 2026-09-28. Hart told the programme he had no reason not to trust Khaldoon and that what the chairman had said was sufficient for him.
The Premier League found City guilty of the majority of 115 breaches of financial rules they had been accused of, a ruling the club is preparing to contest. Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he remained committed to "proving the club's innocence" and that the "process still has a long way to run". Hart, who was capped 75 times by England, made 348 appearances for City in all competitions between 2006 and 2016 and is 39 years old. During his time at the club he twice won the Premier League (2011-12 and 2013-14), the League Cup (2013-14 and 2015-16) and the FA Cup (2010-11).
Hart described Al Mubarak as someone who has "led the club brilliantly" and called him a person to "trust". He told listeners: "I've heard everyone else go down every single rabbit hole, every single wormhole, every single discussion." Hart added: "My honest opinion is I've got no reason not to trust Khaldoon. What he said is enough for me."
Speaking about the chairman's statement, Hart said: "I loved how he spoke. I loved the letter because that was from someone who cared about the club." He said there was "nothing concrete", that it was a matter of allowing things to "play out" and that none of his achievements were "in any way tarnished."
On the prospect of City being found guilty, Hart said: "If Man City are found guilty, which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said, then there's conversations to be had." He continued: "But right now I'm very confident and very, very calm. I'm very proud of what I've achieved and what I did with Manchester City and what we achieved as a team. And that doesn't change. That doesn't change until you tell me."
The allegations against City covered a wide range of alleged rule breaches, centring on claims the club inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other "off the books" payments to circumvent financial regulations. Hart said it had not "crossed my mind" to discuss the situation with former City team-mates because he "can't get involved in the ifs, buts and maybes." He added: "I did what I did. I lined up 11 v 11 and had it out on the pitch. I won some games, lost some games, drew some games, and I shook hands and I walked off. I know what I did, I know what we did, and I know how it happened. It didn't feel like we were scheming or plotting."
The club is set to appeal against the Premier League ruling, a process Al Mubarak has said he will pursue while attempting to "prove the club's innocence" and noting the "process still has a long way to run."
