Rui Pinto, the whistleblower behind Football Leaks, is set to lose his witness protection status in Portugal, his legal team announced on Friday. This development comes days after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. Pinto had entered Portugal's witness protection program in 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and provide files obtained through Football Leaks.
Manchester City was found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations over nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The league alleged that City used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900m over nearly a decade, resulting in inaccurate financial reporting and breaches of spending rules. The club has denied wrongdoing and has appealed against the verdict.
Pinto's legal team expressed concern that his protection would end on October 10, leaving him at heightened risk. They noted that legal proceedings stemming from the leaks remained ongoing, including the recent Manchester City case. Pinto was arrested in Hungary in 2019 before being extradited to Portugal, where he later cooperated with authorities and was placed under witness protection.
Football Leaks, launched in 2015, published millions of confidential documents from the football industry, revealing how some of the richest and most prominent figures in soccer avoided tax by channeling earnings offshore. Pinto's lawyers argued that abruptly depriving him of his protected housing would plunge him into a state of extreme precariousness, making him more vulnerable than at any time since 2020.
Pinto's situation is critical, with threats against him not being merely theoretical, his lawyers said. He was assaulted in Lisbon last April, and his legal team urged authorities to reconsider the decision to end his protection. Portugal's justice ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
The UK's Liberal Democrats have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to disclose any meetings he has held with Manchester City owners, Abu Dhabi representatives, or related entities. This comes after Burnham expressed concern about City's owners potentially selling the club, drawing heavy criticism from opposition politicians.
The Liberal Democrats' spokesperson for culture, media, and sport, Anna Sabine, wrote to Burnham, asking him to publish details of every meeting and conversation he has had with City Football Group, Abu Dhabi United Group, or UAE government representatives, going back to his time as mayor. This would include any hospitality freebies received, to ensure transparency and accountability.
Key points
- Rui Pinto, Football Leaks whistleblower, to lose witness protection in Portugal amid Manchester City financial scandal
- Manchester City found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules
- UK's Liberal Democrats urge Prime Minister Andy Burnham to disclose meetings with Manchester City owners
