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A Portuguese computer hacker who released confidential documents about Manchester City's finances and led to a Premier League investigation is losing his witness protection, despite fears of assassination. Rui Pinto, 37, posted on X about the decision taken last week by Portugal’s Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crimes, which he says has put him in danger due to multiple death threats and serious risks. He is currently seeking a new location and funds to protect himself from further harm while legal proceedings against Manchester City continue.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rui Pinto, a 37-year-old former Football Leaks whistleblower, will lose his witness protection status from Portuguese authorities starting October 10. This decision follows the recent conviction of Manchester City Football Club for violating Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. Pinto's leaks revealed that Manchester City used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenues by over £900 million ($1.2 billion), enabling them to appear compliant with financial rules. After being informed of the end to his protection, Pinto expressed fears for his safety due to multiple death threats and relocated to an undisclosed location out of concern for an assassination attempt.
Written for “Man City Whistleblower Case” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
The Portuguese computer hacker who released documents which led to the Premier League investigation into Manchester City is set to lose his witness protection despite his fears he could be assassinated.
uncertain
he → publish → fears
Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto released a tranche of confidential football documents, including emails and financial records relating to the English Premier League side.
asserted
Pinto → release → side
In 2018, he shared documents with German magazine Der Spiegel, which used them for investigations into City's finances and alleged breaches of financial fair play rules.
asserted
which → share → rules
Last week, City were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, which they have appealed.
asserted
they → find → which
Pinto became part of Portugal's witness protection programme in 2020 after agreeing to co-operate with authorities and provide files obtained through the Football Leaks operation.
asserted
Pinto → become → operation
He posted on X on Friday, external that the decision to terminate his participation in the programme on 10 October has put him in a "life-threatening situation".
asserted
decision → post → situation
The 37-year-old said it had left him with no alternative but to relocate to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period because of "multiple death threats" and "the serious risk of an assassination attempt".
asserted
it → say → attempt
BBC Sport has approached the Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crimes in Portugal for comment.
asserted
Sport → approach → comment
Pinto has described himself as a whistleblower, but was convicted in Portugal of offences including illegal access to data and attempted extortion and given a four-year suspended sentence.
asserted
Pinto → describe → sentence
He wore a bulletproof vest during his first trial in 2020, which was also subject to heightened security measures.
asserted
which → wear → measures
Earlier this year, he was acquitted in a second trial of 241 counts of illegally accessing email accounts belonging to a number of sports bodies in Portugal, including Benfica.
asserted
he → acquit → Benfica
On Wednesday, Pinto turned his attention to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, saying he had "become a cancer on football" and should "have no place in the future of the game".
asserted
he → turn → game
Pinto repeated allegations from 2018 that Infantino intervened to help City and Paris St-Germain avoid financial fair play sanctions from European football's governing body Uefa.
Infantino's position has recently come under increased pressure following controversial plans to sell stakes in the governing body's competitions, such as the World Cup, to private investors.
A statement from Pinto's lawyers released on Friday said the decision to end his participation in the witness protection programme left him at heightened risk, noting legal proceedings stemming from the leaks remained ongoing, including the case against Manchester City.
asserted
proceedings → repeat → City
Pinto has set up a fundraising page to help him "survive this serious situation", which he claims was "created by the Portuguese State".
uncertain
he → set → State
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