Rui Pinto’s lawyers in talks with UK authorities over cooperation deal for whistleblower

Rui Pinto’s lawyers are in talks with British authorities over a potential cooperation agreement under which the Manchester City whistleblower could help to expose serious financial and sporting crime in the UK.

According to information obtained by the Guardian, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has contacted Pinto after it emerged he was willing to assist British authorities with their investigations in exchange for protection.

William Bourdon, Pinto’s lawyer, who has represented whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, told the Guardian contact had been established. “I can confirm that the process is under way,” he said, without providing further details.

If an agreement is reached, the Football Leaks founder could become a significant source of information in investigations into financial crime involving football, law firms and powerful business figures. Between 2015 and 2019, Pinto collected tens of millions of files containing sensitive information. He may be able to assist the SFO in identifying potential tax offences and other irregularities that would otherwise have gone undetected.

The development comes at a significant moment for the 38-year-old Pinto, with his future under Portugal’s witness protection programme uncertain.

Pinto rose to prominence by exposing some of the football industry’s most closely guarded secrets. These included Cristiano Ronaldo’s tax affairs, plans by Europe’s leading clubs to establish a breakaway European Super League and a series of controversial financial arrangements. His revelations triggered investigations and contributed to legal proceedings involving clubs and players across several countries.

More recently, documents collected and leaked by the whistleblower became relevant to the Premier League’s investigation into Manchester City, which resulted in the club being found in breach of financial rules.

The information gathered by Pinto is in the possession of French authorities, who previously sought to include him in a witness protection programme. His arrest by Portuguese police in Hungary in January 2019 disrupted those plans, although France has maintained contact with him. Between his arrest in Hungary and his extradition to Portugal, French authorities travelled to Budapest and copied the contents of the electronic devices in his possession.

Pinto was informed on 30 September, just as his name had made headlines again after the City ruling, that he would no longer be protected by the Portuguese authorities after six years under the witness protection programme. Although the authorities maintained there was no threat to his life, he was advised not to express opinions on controversial issues, to avoid crowded places and to limit the time spent with family members.

Pinto was given 10 days’ warning, even though a decision had been taken in July, and the ruling’s implementation was suspended after it was established he had not been given an opportunity to mount a challenge or appeal. He then appealed and is awaiting a final ruling.

In 2023 Pinto was given a suspended four-year prison sentence in Portugal for attempted extortion and cybercrime offences. He was acquitted in a second case involving similar charges two years later. The public prosecutor’s office and Benfica, one of the clubs hacked by Pinto, appealed against the ruling. A decision from the higher court is awaited.