Portuguese authorities have reversed course on ending witness protection for Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose leaked documents triggered the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City, following an admission that his rights had not been properly observed before the original decision was made.
The special security programmes commission, known as CPES, confirmed that Pinto should have been given a chance to put forward his case before his protected status was terminated. As a result, the withdrawal has been suspended, and Pinto now has the opportunity to formally contest it, with the commission set to revisit the issue.
According to a statement issued by Portugal's Ministry of Justice, the CPES conceded that Pinto had not been properly informed of the reasoning behind ending his protection, nor was he afforded the chance to challenge that decision through the appropriate channels. The commission has committed to sharing with him the risk assessment reports that it claims showed only a limited threat to his personal safety. Those assessments were reportedly discussed at a meeting held on 9 July.
The timing of events has raised eyebrows. Pinto was informed on 30 September that his protected-witness status would be coming to an end — the same day that headlines worldwide were dominated by an independent panel's decision to uphold a guilty verdict against Manchester City, confirmed just a day earlier. His protection had been scheduled to lapse this past Saturday before the suspension was announced.
Pinto now has 10 working days to examine the documentation behind the commission's original ruling and submit a response challenging its findings and conclusions. The looming threat of losing his security cover had already pushed him to launch a fundraising effort aimed at protecting his financial situation going forward. He has previously spoken of serious concerns for his wellbeing, citing credible threats against his life and a physical attack he suffered in Lisbon last April.
Pinto's status as a protected witness goes back to April 2020, when he was placed under the care of Portugal's judicial police after agreeing to hand over access to millions of files. Those documents, obtained from various football clubs and entities connected to Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, among others, were linked to suspected criminal wrongdoing. Dos Santos has consistently denied any allegations of corruption.
The material Pinto provided has since underpinned numerous investigations carried out by judicial, tax, and sporting bodies throughout Europe — including the Premier League's probe into Manchester City. His legal representatives have insisted that any decision to strip him of protection must properly weigh his extensive cooperation with law enforcement against the genuine risks his disclosures have exposed him to.
It appears that mounting public and legal pressure played a role in persuading the Portuguese authorities to reconsider their initial stance. Pinto has indicated he remains ready to continue assisting British investigators examining Manchester City and other matters stemming from his revelations. Separately, he has also passed a large volume of documents to French investigators, material that can now be made available to authorities in other countries, including the United Kingdom, as further probes continue.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.