Rui Pinto, the whistleblower behind Football Leaks, has reportedly lost his protected witness status, a decision understood to have surprised the 37-year-old. Portuguese authorities confirmed on Wednesday that Pinto would no longer be protected as a witness.
Pinto's leaks of private documents led to investigations by both UEFA and the Premier League into Manchester City's financial affairs. He has made statements on social media since Manchester City's guilty verdict from an independent Premier League commission, targeting what he alleged were the club's "cheating" executives and, more recently, Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The decision to end his witness protection has reportedly raised concerns for Pinto's welfare, with him understood to fear for his safety. He has been living in a safe house under protection and has been advised not to return home, contact family members, or visit crowded places.
Pinto has been a protected witness since 2020 after agreeing to grant Portuguese authorities access to millions of files. The Premier League's case against City heavily relied on evidence from Football Leaks. City continues to protest its innocence and plans to appeal the commission's verdict.