Photo via BBC Sport

Man City whistleblower set to lose protection amid fears for life

Rui Pinto, the key figure behind the Football Leaks disclosures, announced that his inclusion in Portugal's witness protection scheme will expire on October 10. The thirty-seven-year-old stated that cutting off this security leaves him vulnerable to severe threats, forcing him into hiding at an unspecified spot indefinitely.

Pinto previously cooperated with authorities in 2020 after obtaining digital files, which led to a suspended four-year sentence for unauthorized data access and extortion, though he was later cleared of similar allegations concerning Benfica. Recent statements from his legal team emphasize that ongoing matters, including scrutiny involving Manchester City, heighten his peril.

Additionally, Pinto publicly criticized Fifa president Gianni Infantino, reviving prior claims that Infantino interfered to shield clubs from Uefa financial penalties. Pinto has since launched an online fundraising campaign to navigate the crisis, attributing the danger entirely to the Portuguese authorities.

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