Football Leaks hacker keeps protection as Portugal pauses removal
Rui Pinto, the hacker behind Football Leaks, will stay in Portugal's witness protection programme after officials paused a decision to remove him. The documents he leaked helped prompt the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City's finances. City have been found guilty of financial rule breaches and are appealing.
Rui Pinto, 37, founded Football Leaks and supplied confidential records to Der Spiegel in 2018. Those materials fed reporting on Manchester City’s finances and alleged financial fair play breaches. City were later found to have violated Premier League financial rules across 2009-10 to 2017-18 and are contesting that outcome.
Portugal’s justice ministry has paused ending Pinto’s witness protection, saying the relevant commission did not properly notify him or let him contest removal. He now has ten days to review a risk assessment indicating a low threat. Pinto was convicted in Portugal of illegal data access and attempted extortion, receiving a suspended four-year sentence, and was acquitted this year of 241 email-access charges.
The case may shape how whistleblowers view protection when exposing powerful sports institutions. If protections appear uncertain, people with sensitive documents could hesitate to come forward, potentially affecting journalists, regulators, fans and clubs seeking accountability. Conversely, stronger safeguards could encourage disclosures that improve financial transparency. Manchester City’s appeal may also influence how supporters and sponsors perceive the Premier League’s enforcement, though outcomes remain uncertain.