The Man City whistleblower, Rui Pinto, will remain in Portugal’s witness protection programme after authorities reversed a decision to end his protection.
Pinto, the Portuguese hacker behind the Football Leaks operation, was due to leave the programme on Saturday. He had warned that losing his protection could put his life at risk.
The 37-year-old released confidential football documents that helped trigger investigations into Manchester City’s finances and alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Man City Whistleblower Wins Temporary Protection
Portugal’s Ministry of Justice announced on Friday that the decision to remove Pinto from witness protection had been suspended.
The ministry said the commission responsible for special security programmes had failed to properly notify Pinto of the reasons for ending his protection. It also said he had not been given an opportunity to challenge the decision.
Under the revised arrangement, Pinto will have 10 days to review a security assessment that reportedly places the threat to his safety at a low level.
Pinto welcomed the reversal in a post on X. He thanked Portugal’s Justice Minister, Rita Alarcão Júdice, and accused the commission of violating the law and abusing its authority.
How Football Leaks Exposed Manchester City
Pinto came to international attention in 2018 after sharing confidential football documents with German publication Der Spiegel.
The materials included emails and financial records used in investigations into Manchester City’s finances and alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations.
Manchester City have faced scrutiny over their financial dealings during several seasons. The club has appealed against the reported ruling concerning charges linked to Premier League financial regulations between the 2009–10 and 2017–18 seasons.
Pinto joined Portugal’s witness protection programme in 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and provide information obtained through Football Leaks.
Hacker Previously Faced Criminal Charges
Although Pinto describes himself as a whistleblower, he has also faced prosecution over his methods of obtaining confidential information.
A Portuguese court convicted him of offences that included illegal access to data and attempted extortion. He received a four-year suspended prison sentence.
During his first trial in 2020, Pinto wore a bulletproof vest amid heightened security measures.
Earlier in 2026, he was acquitted of 241 counts involving the illegal access of email accounts belonging to several Portuguese sports organisations, including Benfica.
For now, the latest decision means Pinto will remain under protection while he reviews the security assessment and the authorities reconsider the circumstances surrounding the termination of his programme.
Source: BBC