Lawyers for Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose leaked documents triggered an investigation into Manchester City, have issued an appeal after he was told he will lose his protected residence and potentially his police protection on 10 October.
Pinto, 37, has been enrolled in a special security programme since August 2020. He leaked documents that led to an investigation into Manchester City over breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and contributed to their Premier League charges.
His four lawyers - Francisco Teixeira da Mota, Luisa Teixeira da Mota, Vincent Brengarth and William Bourdon - said in a press release: "In a few days, without being heard beforehand, as required by law, he would lose the protected, confidential residence assigned to him and be forced to find new housing urgently, with no guarantee that police protection will continue."
Threats and assault
According to the lawyers, Pinto's situation is now critical, with threats against him described as "not merely theoretical". He was assaulted in Lisbon last April.
"His revelations implicated powerful figures with vast resources, and many resulting legal proceedings are still ongoing, as evidenced by the decision handed down just days ago by the Premier League's independent commission regarding Manchester City."
"Abruptly deprived of his protected housing and plunged into a state of extreme precariousness, Rui Pinto would be more vulnerable now than at any time since 2020," the statement continued.
Appeal filed
Pinto has cooperated with the Portuguese justice system, and this cooperation justified placing him under protection. The lawyers said his revelations have been used by judicial, tax and sports authorities across Europe, starting with France, and have advanced transparency and integrity in football.
"The states that have benefited from his actions cannot simply turn their backs on the person who took the risk to bring them to light," they said.
An administrative appeal with suspensive effect will be filed against the decision. The lawyers also asked the Ministry of Justice last Wednesday to reconsider the decision, disclose the details of the risk reassessment, ensure Pinto is heard, and guarantee the continuity of his protection. No answer has been received so far.
"This decision and the way it was made, regrettably, doesn't respect the rule of law and constitutes an act of state terrorism. We can't accept that," the lawyers said.
