Man City whistleblower takes extreme action hours after shock announcement

Rui Pinto, the founder of Football Leaks, has been forced to make a huge decision days after the verdict of Man City's case dropped.

The Portuguese computer hacker responsible for leaking documents which triggered the Premier League’s investigation into Manchester City has taken extreme action after confirming he would be losing witness protection in Portugal.

Rui Pinto, who released confidential information on various clubs and founded Football Leaks in 2018, entered Portugal’s witness protection programme in 2020 after reaching an agreement to co-operate with authorities and provide files he came across as a hacker.

The 37-year-old faced 147 charges, including computer fraud, attempted extortion and violating the privacy of correspondence.

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Pinto was extradited from Hungary in March 2019 and later given a four-year suspended sentence. He was also acquitted of 241 counts of illegally accessing sports clubs’ and bodies’ email accounts in a trial earlier in 2026.

On Friday (October 2), Pinto announced that he was planning to leave Portugal after being informed that his participation in the nation’s witness protection programme had been terminated.

The computer hacker claimed he had received “multiple death threats” and faced “the serious risk of an assassination attempt” against him.

“On 30 September 2026, just hours after the verdict officially confirming Manchester City’s guilt, the commission responsible for Portugal’s witness protection programme informed me of its decision to terminate my participation in the programme and withdraw my police protection, thereby knowingly placing me in a life-threatening situation,” he wrote on X.

“Given these circumstances, I have no alternative but to relocate, within the next few days, to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period of time, due to the multiple death threats I have received and the serious risk of an assassination attempt against me. For this reason, I have just set up a GoFundMe campaign and I am asking for everyone’s support to help me survive this serious situation created by the Portuguese state, which, as I have already stated, has knowingly decided to place my life at risk.”

On Saturday (October 3), The Guardian reported that Pinto had made himself available to assist UK authorities with their legal case in exchange for protection from threats.

Pinto remains open to co-operating with a view to gaining adequate protection through security arrangements.

The Portuguese hacker previously tried to enter a witness protection programme in France in 2019, but this was blocked by Portugal’s authorities.

He has previously co-operated with French, German and Belgian authorities.

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Last week, City were found guilty last week of charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.

The club have since appealed the verdict and say they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists” to support their position.

Confirming their appeal in a statement yesterday, City wrote: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.

“The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”

If the guilty verdict is upheld, potential punishments include suspension from playing in the league, points deductions, replaying of matches, expulsion from the league, being ordered to pay compensation to other clubs, automatic relegation and even the stripping of titles.

READ MORE: Unai Emery becomes first Premier League manager to speak out on Man City FFP verdict

Luke has covered sport – including football, MMA, cricket, and boxing – for SPORTbible since 2024, having previously freelanced at Reach and JOE. When he isn't writing for SPORTbible, he's following Everton home and away. Luke also created and hosted a podcast interviewing guests from singers and bands to footballers and boxers.

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