Dangerous twist after Man City verdict! Rui Pinto loses protected-witness status
Rui Pinto is facing a dramatic change in his personal security just as the Manchester City case reaches another explosive stage.
Details: According to The Guardian, Portuguese authorities have decided to remove Rui Pinto's protected-witness status. The 37-year-old founder of Football Leaks had been protected since 2020 after agreeing to give Portuguese authorities access to millions of files obtained before his arrest. Police currently assess the threat to his safety as low, despite Pinto being assaulted in Lisbon in April.
Pinto has also been advised to avoid social media and exercise caution in his contacts with family members. The decision comes amid the fallout from Manchester City's financial case, with an independent Premier League commission finding the club guilty of serious financial-rule breaches and most of the charges concerning its failure to cooperate with the league's investigation. Manchester City disputes the findings and has the right to appeal.
Portuguese media have added an important detail: Pinto's participation in the special witness-protection programme is expected to formally end on October 10. Whether he will continue to receive separate police protection may depend on a court decision.
It is worth noting that documents obtained through Football Leaks and shared with Der Spiegel and its partners in the European Investigative Collaborations network helped trigger separate investigations into Manchester City's finances by UEFA and the Premier League.
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Steven Perez
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