Whistleblower in Man City Investigation Faces New Dangers as Witness Protection Ends

Rui Pinto, the Portuguese hacker central to the Football Leaks operation and the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City, stated on Friday that he is in a "life-threatening situation" after his participation in Portugal's witness protection program was terminated on October 10.

Pinto, 37, posted on X that the decision has left him with "multiple death threats" and a "serious risk of an assassination attempt," forcing him to relocate to an undisclosed location indefinitely. Pinto has described himself as a whistleblower, though he was convicted in Portugal for offenses including illegal data access and attempted extortion, receiving a four-year suspended sentence. He previously wore a bulletproof vest during his 2020 trial.

Earlier this year, Pinto was acquitted in a separate trial of 241 charges related to illegally accessing emails from various Portuguese sports entities, including Benfica. His legal team released a statement emphasizing the heightened risk due to ongoing legal proceedings stemming from the leaks, such as the case against Manchester City.

In recent days, Pinto has also targeted FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling him "a cancer on football." Pinto reiterated allegations from 2018 that Infantino intervened to shield Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain from financial fair play sanctions imposed by UEFA. Infantino's leadership has faced scrutiny over proposed plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

Pinto has launched a fundraising campaign, asserting that the perilous situation was "created by the Portuguese State" and is seeking financial support to "survive this serious situation."