Joe Hart Breaks Silence After Manchester City Verdict on 115 Charges
The former England international said he believed the chairman’s position and trusted the club to continue fighting the case.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says he trusts the club's leadership and its efforts to defend itself over the Premier League's financial case. Photo: Getty Images.
By Robert Mutasi
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has spoken publicly about the club’s reported verdict in the long-running Premier League financial case, saying he continues to trust the club’s leadership and believes Manchester City will seek to establish its innocence.
Reports on September 25, 2026, said an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 financial rule breaches brought against the club by the Premier League. The detailed judgment has not yet been officially published, and the club is expected to appeal the findings.
Hart, who spent several years at Manchester City, has now addressed the situation after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak issued a statement defending the club.
The former England international said he believed the chairman’s position and trusted the club to continue fighting the case.
Hart’s comments come at a significant point in a legal and regulatory process that has lasted several years. Manchester City were charged in February 2023 following a Premier League investigation into alleged financial breaches dating back to earlier seasons.
The independent commission hearing concluded in December 2024 after an extensive process. However, the publication of the findings has taken considerably longer than initially expected. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters acknowledged in August that the delay had caused frustration but said the independent process had to be allowed to run its course.
The reported verdict covers allegations relating to the club’s financial conduct during the period under investigation. The charges have included matters concerning financial reporting and the club’s compliance with Premier League rules.
Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing and has maintained that it has complied with the relevant regulations.
Following reports of the commission’s findings, the club said the Premier League process was still ongoing and that significant elements remained to be completed. City also pointed to the confidentiality surrounding the proceedings.
Chairman Al Mubarak later issued an open letter to supporters, reiterating the club’s position and thanking fans for their continued support.
Hart’s comments add to the reaction from former players and figures associated with Manchester City following the reported findings.
The former goalkeeper joined City from Birmingham City in 2006 and became a key figure during the club’s transformation into a major force in English football. He won two Premier League titles with City before leaving the club permanently in 2018.
His time at the Etihad Stadium included the club’s first Premier League title in 2011/12 and another league triumph in 2013/14.
The reported findings have also triggered wider debate within English football, with attention now shifting towards the potential consequences of the case.
No final punishment has been announced. Reports have suggested that possible sanctions could include financial penalties, sporting restrictions or other measures, but the eventual outcome will depend on the formal findings and the appeals process. The Premier League has not yet announced a final sanction.
Manchester City is expected to challenge the reported findings through the available appeal process. The club’s leadership has indicated that the matter remains far from concluded.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano also reportedly told European Football Clubs representatives that the case could take considerably longer to resolve.
For Hart, who spent much of his career at the club, the latest developments have brought renewed attention to a period in which Manchester City established itself among the leading clubs in English football.
The reported verdict therefore represents another stage in a case that has been under scrutiny since the Premier League announced the charges in 2023. The publication of the full judgment and the subsequent appeal process are expected to determine the next steps in the dispute.
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