Rui Pinto keeps witness protection as Portugal orders fresh review

Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto will remain under witness protection after Portuguese authorities reversed a decision that would have ended the arrangement on Saturday. BBC Sport reported that the hacker, whose disclosures helped trigger the Premier League investigation into Manchester City, will keep that protection while the authorities reconsider his case.

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Portugal's Ministry of Justice said the special security programmes commission had failed to give Pinto adequate notice of the reasons for ending the programme or an opportunity to challenge them. Portuguese broadcaster RTP reported that the commission consequently annulled its September 22 decision, the subsequent procedure and the notification issued to Pinto on September 30.

Pinto will now receive a new notification, access to the report reassessing his security risk and relevant material from the commission's meeting minutes. According to RTP, he will have 10 working days to respond to the proposed decision and its grounds. The commission must complete that process and consider any submission before deciding whether to retain or end his protection.

The reversal does not amount to a permanent guarantee that the programme will continue. Its immediate effect is to preserve Pinto's existing arrangements pending a fresh decision. RTP also reported that his lawyers had announced plans for an administrative appeal seeking to suspend the withdrawal, while the civic group Frente Cívica had called for the justice minister to intervene over concerns for his safety.

Pinto entered witness protection in 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and supply information obtained through Football Leaks, BBC Sport reported. His disclosures included confidential football emails and financial records. In 2018, he provided documents to the German magazine Der Spiegel, which used them in reporting on Manchester City's finances and alleged breaches of financial fair play rules.

Pinto describes himself as a whistleblower, but his activities have also resulted in criminal proceedings. He received a four-year suspended sentence in Portugal for offences including illegal access to data and attempted extortion. BBC Sport reported that he was acquitted earlier this year of 241 counts concerning access to email accounts belonging to Portuguese sports organisations, including Benfica.