Rui Pinto brands Gianni Infantino a cancer for football after Manchester City leaks

In a stark online post, Portuguese computer expert Rui Pinto, the founder of Football Leaks, accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of being a "cáncer del futbol" and urged his resignation, citing the Manchester City financial scandal.

The leak‑driven investigation began in 2018 when Der Spiegel published documents on the English club’s sponsorship contracts and revenue streams. Those papers sparked UEFA and Premier League probes that later covered nine seasons and concluded Manchester City bore the bulk of the alleged breaches.

Football Leaks’ role in the investigations

Pinto reminded that Football Leaks’ disclosures were pivotal in prompting the authorities to act. He argued the portal’s data exposed the mechanisms behind the club’s alleged violations, leading to formal scrutiny by European football bodies.

According to Pinto, Infantino, then UEFA secretary‑general, intervened in the Financial Fair Play process, ensuring City and Paris Saint‑Germain received monetary fines rather than harsher sporting penalties that could have excluded them from the Champions League.

Alleged misuse of confidential information

Pinto claimed the former UEFA chief shared confidential details and participated in discussions shaping the cases against both clubs. He quoted his own message: "In 2014 someone was fully aware of Manchester City’s irregularities; Gianni Infantino abused his power, shared confidential information and dodged the disciplinary body to secure only a fine."

The Manchester City board has rejected the accusations, maintaining its innocence and announcing plans to appeal the Premier League’s decision.

Infantino under mounting pressure

Infantino’s remarks come amid growing criticism of his governance, highlighted by the recent withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise commercial project after widespread objections.

He is poised to seek a fourth term in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027, with rival candidatures required by 18 November.

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