Full Breakdown
Police Protection Extended for Football Leaks Whistleblower Rui Pinto
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Portuguese authorities have kept Rui Pinto, the founder of the Football Leaks website, under police protection after the Commission for Special Security Programmes voided its September 30, 2026 decision to end that protection. Consequently, his protection, which was scheduled to cease on October 10, will remain in effect pending a new decision.
Background & Context
Pinto, a 37-year-old self-taught computer expert, began publishing leaked football-related documents in late 2015 under the pseudonym “John.” Between 2016 and 2018 he supplied more than 70 million confidential files to a consortium of European investigative media outlets. The disclosures triggered multiple investigations, most notably the Premier League’s probe that found Manchester City guilty of financial rule breaches spanning the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. Pinto entered Portugal’s witness-protection programme in August 2020 after agreeing to grant authorities access to the encrypted data he had gathered.
Data & Statistics
- The independent commission that examined Manchester City’s finances concluded the club breached 114 of 115 charges, inflating revenue by over £900 million through sham commercial contracts.
- Pinto received a four-year suspended sentence in September 2023 for attempted extortion, illegal data access, and breach of correspondence. He also served a six-month suspended sentence in France for hacking Paris Saint-Germain emails.
- A GoFundMe campaign launched by Pinto to finance his life in hiding has raised roughly €27,000 of a €3 million target.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Ministry of Justice issued a statement explaining that the September 30, 2026 decision to terminate protection was void because Pinto was not properly informed of the reasons.
- The Commission for Special Security Programmes announced that the protection measures would stay in place until a new decision is issued.
- Pinto’s lawyers argued that he continues to face “multiple death threats” and cited an assault he suffered in Lisbon in April 2026, asserting that the state’s actions place his life at risk.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the outcome of Pinto’s second Portuguese trial. One report states he was acquitted of 241 charges in April 2026, while another notes the acquittal occurred after judges ruled the facts mirrored the first case. Both accounts agree that the earlier suspended sentence from September 2023 remains in force, but the precise legal status of the second trial’s verdict is unclear. Additionally, the exact date when a sanctions hearing for Manchester City will occur has not been set.
What’s Next
- A new decision on Pinto’s police protection is pending from the Ministry of Justice.
- Manchester City’s appeal of the independent commission’s ruling was filed on the Thursday following the September 30, 2026 verdict; a date for the sanctions hearing has yet to be announced.
- Pinto has indicated willingness to provide further documents to British authorities, contingent on assurances of his safety.