Rui Pinto faces assassination risk after witness protection ends

Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower behind the “Football Leaks” project, has announced he is facing an assassination risk following the termination of his state-provided witness protection program. Pinto, whose documents were central to investigations into Manchester City’s financial dealings, stated that Portuguese authorities decided to withdraw his police protection shortly after the official verdict confirming Manchester City’s guilt was released.

Pinto claims he has received numerous death threats and intends to move to an undisclosed location indefinitely to ensure his safety. He has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund his relocation and secure his livelihood outside the state protection system.

The situation follows recent findings by a Premier League independent committee, which determined that Manchester City engaged in schemes to disguise funds to circumvent financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. While Manchester City has maintained its innocence and filed an appeal, the fallout continues to impact the football community. England national team manager Thomas Tuchel noted that the controversy is a significant topic of discussion among players, though he could not confirm if it is actively affecting their performance.