Rui Pinto claims his life is at risk after Manchester City verdict
Manchester City whistleblower Rui Pinto says a Portuguese court has removed his police protection, putting him in a "life‑threatening" situation just hours after the Premier League’s independent commission found the club guilty of 115 financial breaches. The 37‑year‑old announced the decision on X, warning that death threats force him to relocate immediately.
Background to the case
Pinto, the creator of Football Leaks, supplied emails and other documents from City employees to media outlets, including Germany’s Der Spiegel, which published the exposes in 2018. In September 2023 he received a four‑year suspended sentence for attempted extortion, illegal data access and breach of correspondence, charges that also involved other football organisations.
Witness protection withdrawn
After being extradited from Hungary to Portugal in 2019, Pinto entered the country’s special witness‑protection programme in August 2020. He told followers on X that, "On Wednesday, just hours after the verdict officially confirming Manchester City’s guilt, the Commission responsible for Portugal's witness protection programme informed me of its decision to terminate my participation and withdraw my police protection, thereby knowingly placing me in a life‑threatening situation." The statement also referenced multiple death threats and a serious risk of an assassination attempt.
Fundraising and legal response
To survive the danger, Pinto launched a GoFundMe campaign titled "Help save Rui Pinto’s life (Football Leaks whistleblower)" and aims to raise €3 million. By Friday night the page had already attracted over €6 000 in its first hour. His lawyers – Francisco Teixeira da Mota, Luísa Teixeira da Mota, William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth – issued a press release stressing that his situation is now "critical" and that he was assaulted in Lisbon last April.
The legal team announced an administrative appeal with suspensive effect and urged the Ministry of Justice to disclose the risk‑assessment details that led to the protection withdrawal. They highlighted that the Premier League’s independent commission had found City guilty on 114 of 115 charges, intensifying the whistleblower’s exposure to powerful interests.
In a broader context, the case underscores the ongoing tension between investigative journalism and elite football institutions. The European football community has followed the developments closely, with many commentators sharing the story on social platforms, urging supporters to "Give" their backing and "Show" solidarity.
As the situation unfolds, Pinto’s plea for safety and financial assistance remains urgent, and the legal battle over his protection continues to attract worldwide attention.