Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto, known for obtaining documents used in investigations involving Manchester City and other major football clubs, is set to lose the special protection he has received for more than six years.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing RTE, the special security programme under which the Portuguese whistleblower has been protected since August 2020 will expire on October 10.
Pinto will then be required to leave the protected accommodation provided to him and find a new place to live. There is also no guarantee that he will continue to receive police protection.
The documents obtained by Pinto and shared with European journalists triggered a series of investigations involving football clubs, players and agents. His material was notably used in investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving Manchester City.
In September 2023, a Portuguese court found Pinto guilty of attempted extortion, illegal access to data and violation of correspondence, handing him a four-year suspended prison sentence.
It has also been reported that Pinto was attacked in April and continues to receive threats, raising further concerns about his safety once the special protection programme ends.
