How Rui Pinto's leaks dump Manchester City into a financial crisis
In a cold room in Budapest, more than ten years ago, Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto began uploading confidential documents. In 2015 he published, under the pseudonym ‘John’, thousands of files that would later form the basis for the current crisis surrounding Manchester City. The publications led to a series of investigations that now see the club in a free fall.
The first leaks and their scope
Pinto initially focused on the Portuguese league, particularly Benfica and FC Porto, but quickly expanded to the biggest European names. Documents about Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar were made public, as were plans for a Super League. Through a partnership with the German Der Spiegel, he exchanged more than 70 million documents with investigative journalists.
Twente and the aftermath of the leaks
One of the first major consequences was the revelation of prohibited agreements between FC Twente and an investment company. The documents led to three years of exclusion from European football and a complete overhaul of the board under Joop Munsterman, which ultimately in 2018 led to the club’s relegation.
Manchester City under fire
The most recent leaks concerned Manchester City and fueled an investigation that led the Premier League to formulate 115 accusations. An independent committee found the club guilty of 114 of those 115 infringements, after which City appealed. Pinto described the ruling as a “historic decision for English football” on his X‑account.
In 2023 Pinto received a four‑year suspended prison sentence after being extradited to Portugal. His lawyers reported that he has since received death threats and wore a bullet‑proof vest during a trial. In 2024 they stated that he is “a friend of football” and that the sport should be “grateful” for his work.
The impact of the leaks remains palpable. While other Premier League clubs demand a swift punishment for Manchester City, Pinto continues to challenge the football world via social media. His lawyer emphasized that he now lives under strict surveillance at an unknown location, but that his work will continue to affect the sport.