Hart trusts Man City chair Khaldoon over ruling

What the report says

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has publicly backed club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak after the Premier League found City guilty of the majority of the financial rule breaches they were accused of. In comments to BBC Radio 5 Live, Hart said he had no reason to doubt Al Mubarak’s account and described him as someone who has guided the club well. The remarks came as City prepared to appeal the ruling, which remains a major ongoing issue for the club.

BBC Sport reported that Al Mubarak has said he remains committed to proving City’s innocence and that the process is still not finished. Hart, who played 348 times for City between 2006 and 2016, said he was comfortable with allowing the matter to run its course and that he was not spending time on speculation. He said he believed the chairman’s statement and felt the letter from the club reflected genuine concern for Manchester City.

Hart also said the situation did not alter how he viewed his own achievements at the club. During his time at City, he won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup. More broadly, the case matters because it could have significant consequences for one of English football’s most successful teams if the appeal process upholds the findings. The allegations relate to claims about sponsorship revenue and other payments, according to BBC Sport.