Joe Hart says that if City are found guilty, "which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said," there are conversations to be had
Joe HartFormer Manchester City and England goalkeeper, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club
On BBC Radio 5 Live on September 28, 2026, former City goalkeeper Joe 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 said he was "very confident and very, very calm" and that his pride in what he and the team achieved "doesn't change until you tell me."
Responding to
Manchester City said on September 29, 2026 that the club "is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League," that "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions," and that the commission's opinion "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
“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.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Did Manchester City use 'sham' sponsorships to circumvent Premier League financial rules, as an independent commission found and the club denies?
On September 29, 2026, the Premier League published the redacted core decision of an independent commission that heard its charges against Manchester City. The commission found that between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons City arranged sponsorship contracts that it described as "shams" with a number of Abu Dhabi sponsors, as part of what it called a disguised funding scheme in which the club's owner, Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), paid most of the recorded fees. It found that the club "clearly intended to circumvent the PL Rules." It found all of the financial-rule charges proven and most of the co-operation charges proven. City says it is innocent, that "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists" in support of its positions, and that the opinion is unsafe. It says it will appeal, and the deadline is October 2. The sanction has not been decided. As of October 1, 2026, this is a first-instance decision that an Appeal Board has not reviewed on the merits. The disputed question is whether City used sponsorship contracts that the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
BBC Sport's report of September 28, 2026 on Joe Hart's comments on BBC Radio 5 Live. He spoke before the Premier League published the decision, reacting to the reports of September 25 and to the chairman's letter.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Hart spoke on the Monday after reports of the verdict, and before the Premier League published the decision. BBC Sport says he had just said he had no reason not to trust City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and that what the chairman said was enough for him.
After the quotation
BBC Sport reports that Hart said it had not crossed his mind to discuss the news with former team-mates. The commission published its decision the next day, and City said it will appeal.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the proposition that City used sponsorship contracts the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules, as the commission found, Hart says he does not think City are guilty, relying on the chairman's letter, and says he remains very confident. That rejects the finding, so we used Denied. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because he adds that if City are found guilty there are conversations to be had, but his stated view is that they are not guilty. He spoke before the commission's decision was published.
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Etihad Airways says it "categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication" that it was involved in improper arrangements
Etihad Airways
“Etihad Airways has reviewed the Premier League commission's published opinion relating to the disciplinary proceedings involving Manchester City, together with the Premier League's public communication of its findings. Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements. The Premier League's public communication of the commission's findings, following a period of selective leaks and reporting, has further created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the redacted published findings. At no time did the Premier League reach out to or engage with Etihad in the process associated with the commission's opinion. Etihad was therefore never given the opportunity by the Premier League to be represented, to provide relevant information, or to ensure the accuracy and fairness of information relied upon in reaching conclusions that may now be interpreted as reflecting adversely on the airline. Etihad is deeply concerned by the way this matter has been communicated publicly. The lack of clarity and transparency, together with the selective disclosure of information, has created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision. The Premier League must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented. Etihad is immensely proud of its longstanding relationship with Manchester City. The Etihad name has been proudly carried by the club and its stadium for many years, as part of a partnership that has connected us with millions of supporters around the world. Our commitment to Manchester City, its supporters and our shared partnership remains strong. We stand with the club, its supporters and our wider Etihad community as Manchester City challenges the commission's conclusions through the processes available to it. Etihad will seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests.”Read statement
IFR chair David Kogan says the decision "raises serious issues" and the regulator will "await further developments"
“The independent commission’s decision raises serious issues. The IFR has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate, in the interests of protecting the sustainability, honesty and integrity of English football where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals. This includes taking account of findings made by the Leagues. However, as the proceedings remain ongoing between Manchester City and the Premier League we will await further developments. We hope it can be resolved quickly for the sake of fans. For now, we have no further comment.”Read statement
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- Joe Hart says that if City are found guilty, "which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said," there are conversations to be had
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The Dispute Index. "Joe Hart says that if City are found guilty, "which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said," there are conversations to be had". First published: 2026-10-01. Last updated: 2026-10-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/4020-on-bbc-radio-5-live-on-september-28