Rui Pinto leaves Portugal and moves to an undisclosed location amid threats

Rui Pinto, the founder of the Football Leaks platform whose 2020 disclosures triggered the inquiry into Manchester City, announced that he is leaving his native Portugal and relocating to an undisclosed place because of repeated threats against him.

Protection withdrawn, legal team objects

Pinto said the move follows the decision by Portuguese police to withdraw the personal protection that had been provided to him while authorities dealt with the fallout from the documents he released. According to Pinto, he fears for his safety as the legal processes tied to those revelations draw to a close.

"I have no choice but to relocate to an unknown location for an indefinite time," Pinto said, citing numerous death threats and what he describes as "a serious risk of assassination attempts."

His lawyers sharply criticized the authorities' decision to remove his protection, arguing the withdrawal was made without proper procedure and left him especially exposed at a time when his earlier revelations are again at the center of one of the biggest scandals in the history of English football.

Pinto became widely known after his platform published internal documents in 2020 that prompted scrutiny of Manchester City. Now, as one related investigation approaches its end, Pinto says he cannot remain in Portugal because of the threats and the perceived lack of state protection.

The move brings renewed attention to the personal risks faced by whistleblowers and the responsibilities of authorities to safeguard them while high-profile cases remain active.

Photo: press material from the event