Portugal Restores Police Protection for Football Leaks Whistleblower Rui Pinto

Portuguese authorities reversed a decision to strip whistleblower Rui Pinto of his police protection after determining the initial cancellation procedure was legally void, leparisien.fr reported. The Commission for Special Security Programs invalidated its own September 22 resolution because the Football Leaks founder was never properly notified of the reasons behind the ruling and lacked an opportunity to contest it, according to the French publication’s reporting.

Police Protection Restored Pending New Commission Review

Pinto’s security detail was originally scheduled to expire on a Saturday, leaving the 37-year-old computer hacker facing imminent exposure to grave security risks. lequipe.fr noted that the Ministry of Justice confirmed the protective measures remain fully operational while the commission prepares a fresh evaluation. Lawyers representing Pinto strongly contested the earlier termination, pointing out that severe threats persist against their client, including a physical assault in Lisbon last April.

Death Threats Force Secret Relocation Plans

Following the initial cancellation notice, Pinto took to social media to announce that mounting security dangers left him with no alternative.

I have no choice but to move, in the next few days, to a secret location for an indefinite period, due to the multiple death requests I have received

Rui Pinto

leparisien.fr reported. Pinto also launched an online fundraising campaign to help him survive what he characterized as a dangerous situation orchestrated by the Portuguese state.

Whistleblower Status and Ongoing Financial Investigations

Pinto has held official protected witness status since August 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in Portugal. His massive cache of leaked documents exposed widespread questionable financial practices across the sports industry, directly fueling numerous ongoing judicial probes, including investigations into English club Manchester City noted by lequipe.fr. The whistleblower’s legal battles also include a four-year suspended prison sentence handed down in September 2023 for computer hacking and attempted extortion directed at a sports investment fund, alongside an acquittal in a separate second trial.

Pending Decision Date by the Security Commission

The current security detail stays active until the Commission for Special Security Programs issues its revised ruling following proper notification procedures, with no specific calendar date yet established for the upcoming administrative decision.