Joe Hart backs Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak amid 115 Premier League charge ruling
Former keeper says he has "no reason not to trust Khaldoon"
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has backed club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak's assertion that City are innocent of breaking Premier League financial rules, after an independent commission found the club guilty of the majority of 115 alleged breaches.
Hart, capped 75 times by England and who made 348 appearances for City in all competitions between 2006 and 2016, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that Al Mubarak is someone he trusts.
"I've heard everyone else go down every single rabbit hole, every single wormhole, every single discussion," Hart said. "My honest opinion is I've got no reason not to trust Khaldoon. What he said is enough for me."
The 39-year-old added: "I loved how he spoke. I loved the letter because that was from someone who cared about the club."
City to appeal ruling
City have been found guilty of the majority of the 115 breaches they were accused of by the Premier League, allegations centred on claims they inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other "off the books" payments to circumvent financial regulations. The club say they will appeal against the ruling.
Al Mubarak said he remains committed to "proving the club's innocence" and that "the process still has a long way to run".
Hart, who twice won the Premier League with City in 2011-12 and 2013-14, as well as League Cup medals in 2013-14 and 2015-16 and the FA Cup in 2010-11, insisted his achievements are not tarnished while the case is unresolved.
"Because there was nothing concrete, it's a matter of allowing things to play out and none of my achievements are in any way tarnished," he 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. 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."
"It didn't feel like we were scheming"
Hart said it has not crossed his mind to discuss the news with former City team-mates because he "can't get involved in the ifs, buts and maybes".
"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," he said. "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."