Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose Football Leaks disclosures helped trigger investigations into Manchester City’s finances, has lost his protected witness status in Portugal.
Pinto had been under witness protection since 2020 after cooperating with Portuguese authorities and handing over millions of documents obtained during his investigation into football’s financial affairs.
According to The Guardian, Pinto had been living in a secret safe house, with authorities keeping his location undisclosed.
He was reportedly advised not to return home, contact family members or visit crowded places following the withdrawal of his protection.
Portuguese police have assessed the current threat to Pinto’s safety as low, despite concerns surrounding his security and a reported physical assault in April.
He has also been advised to exercise caution with his social media activity and interactions with family members.
Pinto’s Football Leaks revelations, published from 2015, exposed millions of documents relating to the finances of major football figures and clubs.
His disclosures concerning Manchester City provided information that contributed to investigations by UEFA and the Premier League into the club’s financial affairs.
Manchester City was recently found guilty by an independent commission of breaching Premier League financial rules, although the club has maintained its innocence and indicated it would challenge the findings.
Pinto’s status has been complicated by his own legal history. He was convicted in 2023 and received a suspended sentence for cybercrimes and attempted extortion.
However, he was acquitted in April 2026 in a separate Portuguese case involving 241 alleged counts of illegal access to email accounts after a court ruled that the charges were invalid.
The withdrawal of his protected-witness status now leaves Pinto facing a new period of uncertainty over his security and living arrangements, despite his continued cooperation with authorities and the significance of the information he provided.
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