Whistleblower Rui Pinto goes into hiding after death threats
Rui Pinto, the whistleblower behind Manchester City’s initial charges, has announced he is entering hiding following what he describes as “multiple death threats,” reports BritPanorama.
The Portuguese hacker has been a protected witness since 2020 after providing Portuguese authorities access to millions of documents amassed before his arrest in Budapest. Pinto, who played a significant role in the ongoing case against Manchester City, stated on social media that the risk to his life is now dire.
The 37-year-old expressed grave concerns for his safety, citing a notification from the commission overseeing Portugal’s witness protection programme that his special security status will end, effective October 10. This decision has left him feeling vulnerable and exposed to potential assassination attempts.
“On Wednesday, just hours after the verdict officially confirming Manchester City’s guilt, the commission decided to terminate my participation in the programme and withdraw my police protection, thereby knowingly placing me in a life-threatening situation,” Pinto wrote. “I have no alternative but to relocate, within the next few days, to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period of time, due to the multiple death threats I have received.”
Pinto has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support himself amid this situation. He has called on supporters of Football Leaks to assist him, pledging that his efforts to expose wrongdoing will not cease. He aims to raise £2.5 million in donations.
Meanwhile, Manchester City maintains its innocence in the Premier League’s allegations and has formally appealed the findings of the independent commission. The club argues that the commission’s opinion involves “clear material errors” and claims it possesses irrefutable evidence that supports its position.
City commented, “The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.” This appeal follows a ruling concerning financial breaches incurred from the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, which included accusations of employing disguised funding schemes.
Pinto’s situation illustrates the precarious intersection of whistleblowing and personal safety within the world of football, underscoring the stakes involved in challenging powerful entities. As he prepares for an uncertain future, the ramifications of his revelations continue to unfold on the pitch and off, a reminder of the hidden costs of transparency in sports.
