Man City Whistleblower Rui Pinto to Lose Witness Protection
Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto reveals he will lose Portugal witness protection on October 10, warning of a life-threatening situation.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto is set to lose witness protection on October 10.
- Pinto warned on X that terminating his participation puts him in mortal danger.
- He handed over confidential financial documents to Der Spiegel back in 2018.
- Lawyers emphasize that legal proceedings and high risks remain ongoing.
Rui Pinto, the Portuguese computer hacker and founder of Football Leaks who released confidential files triggering investigations into Manchester City, is reportedly set to lose his witness protection status despite expressing severe fears for his life.
Back in 2018, Pinto shared a tranche of internal documents, including emails and financial records concerning the English Premier League side, with the German magazine Der Spiegel. The publication utilized these records to investigate the club's financial practices and alleged breaches of financial fair play regulations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Last week, Manchester City were found guilty of all charges relating to financial regulation breaches spanning from the 2009-10 to the 2017-18 seasons, a verdict the club is currently appealing. Pinto entered Portugal's witness protection program in 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and hand over files acquired through his operations.
However, Pinto posted on X on Friday stating that the decision to terminate his participation in the program on October 10 has placed him in a life-threatening situation. BBC Sport has reached out to the Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crimes in Portugal for a statement regarding the matter.
The removal of witness protection for a key whistleblower in high-profile sports corruption cases highlights the immense security challenges faced by individuals who expose corporate and institutional wrongdoings. As legal battles surrounding major football clubs continue to unfold, ensuring the safety of those holding critical insider knowledge remains a complex and pressing international concern.
A statement released by Pinto's lawyers on Friday noted that ending his participation in the protection program drastically heightens his vulnerability, especially since legal proceedings stemming from the massive data leaks remain fully active.
Source: BBC Sport
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