Rui Pinto, the whistleblower behind Football Leaks, is reported to be ready to help UK authorities with matters relating to Manchester City if he is given protection from threats.
According to the Guardian, Pinto’s priority is to cooperate with authorities provided adequate security arrangements are put in place. His witness protection status in Portugal has been terminated, placing his future — and the information he may still hold — back in the spotlight.
The development comes days after Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. City continue to maintain their innocence and have now formally appealed against the independent commission’s findings.
Guardian reports Pinto willing to help UK authorities
The Guardian reports that Pinto is prepared to assist authorities in the UK in exchange for protection from threats. A crowdfunding campaign was launched on Friday to help him begin a new life after leaving the protection of Portuguese police, but cooperation is said to remain his priority if satisfactory security arrangements can be reached.
Pinto had been a protected witness in Portugal since 2020. His lawyers are appealing against the decision to end that protection, while he has said he fears for his safety.
The Guardian also reports that, shortly before his arrest in Budapest in January 2019, Pinto had been negotiating entry into a witness protection programme in France. That move was halted following intervention from Portuguese authorities.
There is no confirmation that an agreement has been reached with UK authorities, so the position remains one of reported willingness rather than confirmed cooperation.
Why Pinto matters to the Manchester City case
Material obtained by Pinto and subsequently published through Football Leaks helped trigger scrutiny of City’s finances and contributed to investigations by UEFA and the Premier League.
The Premier League has since confirmed that its independent commission found City guilty of serious financial breaches across nine seasons. The commission concluded that the club used “sham” commercial arrangements as part of a disguised funding scheme.
It calculated that City recorded £949.94m in sponsorship revenue from Abu Dhabi-based companies during the period examined, of which £830.69m consisted of sums ultimately funded by Abu Dhabi United Group.
Alongside other arrangements that reduced costs, the commission found that the schemes artificially increased City’s revenues and reduced expenditure by more than £900m. City strongly reject the findings and insist a comprehensive body of evidence supports their position.
The club’s case and the implications of the verdict are covered in our Man City guilty verdict explainer.
City’s appeal now formally under way
City have lodged their appeal with the Chair of the Judicial Panel. The Premier League has confirmed that the subsequent independent Appeal Board hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of its outcome is permitted.
That process is separate from Pinto’s situation. His reported willingness to cooperate with UK authorities does not mean that new evidence will necessarily form part of City’s Premier League appeal, and there has been no confirmation that British authorities have agreed to his conditions.
It nevertheless adds another strand to a story that has moved quickly since the commission’s decision was made public. The possible financial consequences for City are examined further in our guide to what the verdict could mean for the club’s transfer money.
For now, two things can be stated firmly: City’s appeal has been lodged, while Pinto is reported to be willing to cooperate with UK authorities if suitable protection is provided.
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