Rui Pinto is prepared to help the UK authorities in their legal case in exchange for protection as he fears for his life, according to The Guardian. Pinto triggered the investigation from the Premier League into Manchester City's financial affairs which led to the club being found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges.
Pinto's offer to UK authorities
The Portuguese activist is willing to aid powers in their investigation with witness protection in return. Pinto has detailed knowledge of the companies, documents and individuals in charge, while City face sporting sanctions, there could be scope for the government to extend the investigation.
The 37-year-old was placed into witness protection in Portugal but it has now been said that he will no longer receive the support, he will be free to cooperate with other countries from October 10. He had entered the protection programme after cooperating with the Portuguese justice authorities.
Acquittal and fears for safety
In April, he was acquitted of 241 charges of illegally accessing email accounts belonging to several sports organisations, tax authority, magistrates and law firms. Pinto could further assist the authorities after hundreds of millions of files were gathered during the Football Leaks and Luanda Leaks. He confirmed that he is looking to leave Portugal as he fears for his safety.
“On 30 September 2026, just hours after the verdict officially confirming Manchester City’s guilt, the commission responsible for Portugal’s witness protection programme informed me of its decision to terminate my participation in the programme and withdraw my police protection, thereby knowingly placing me in a life-threatening situation,” he wrote on X.
“Given these circumstances, 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 and the serious risk of an assassination attempt against me.
"For this reason, I have just set up a GoFundMe campaign and I am asking for everyone’s support to help me survive this serious situation created by the Portuguese state, which, as I have already stated, has knowingly decided to place my life at risk.”
City's appeal
City have lodged an appeal against the independent commission's verdict that they were guilty of almost all of the alleged financial breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18. In a statement, they said: "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.
"The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.
"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.
"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."
