Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto's lawyers are in talks with British authorities about possible cooperation in investigations into financial crimes. The whistleblower, whose documents played a role in the Manchester City case, is ready to provide investigators with information about alleged wrongdoing in exchange for guarantees of protection.
According to The Guardian, Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) contacted representatives of the 38-year-old Portuguese whistleblower after learning he was willing to help investigations in the UK.
Pinto's lawyer William Bourdon, who previously represented Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, confirmed that talks had begun.
I can confirm that the process is already under way.
The lawyer did not disclose any further details.
What could Rui Pinto tell British investigators?
If the parties reach an agreement, the Football Leaks founder could become an important source of information for investigations into financial crimes involving football clubs, law firms and influential businesspeople.
Between 2015 and 2019, Pinto collected tens of millions of files containing confidential information.
British investigators hope the material could help uncover alleged tax violations and other financial wrongdoing that had previously gone unnoticed.
For now, however, an agreement remains only a possibility. The terms of any cooperation and the extent of the information Pinto could provide to British authorities have not been disclosed.
Link to the Manchester City investigation
Pinto became widely known for publishing documents that exposed the private financial workings of European football.
His disclosures included information about Cristiano Ronaldo's tax affairs, football clubs' financial agreements and plans to create a European Super League.
The published material prompted investigations and legal proceedings in several countries.
Documents collected by Pinto were also used in the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City.
In September 2026, the club were found guilty of breaching the English league's financial rules.
The current talks with British authorities come shortly after that decision, which renewed attention on Football Leaks' activities.
Pinto could lose protection in Portugal
The talks are taking place amid uncertainty over the whistleblower's own safety.
Pinto had been under the protection of the Portuguese authorities for six years, but was informed on 30 September that his participation in the relevant programme was ending.
The authorities maintained that his life was not in danger, but also advised him to avoid crowded places, limit meetings with relatives and refrain from speaking publicly on controversial issues.
The decision to end his protection was taken in July, but Pinto was notified only ten days before it was due to take effect.
Implementation of the decision was subsequently suspended because the whistleblower had not been given an opportunity to challenge it in time.
Pinto has appealed and is awaiting a final decision.
Legal cases and the Football Leaks documents
Pinto was detained in Hungary in January 2019 and subsequently extradited to Portugal.
Before his arrest, the French authorities had considered including the whistleblower in their own witness protection programme.
After his detention, French representatives travelled to Budapest and copied the contents of Pinto's electronic devices. The material he collected remains in the possession of the French authorities.
In 2023, he received a four-year suspended prison sentence in a case involving attempted extortion and cybercrime.
Two years later, he was acquitted in another case involving similar charges. However, prosecutors and Benfica, who were among the victims of the hacks, appealed against the acquittal. The higher court has yet to issue a decision.
Pinto's activities remain controversial. His supporters regard the Football Leaks publications as an important tool for exposing corruption, while critics point to the illegal methods used to obtain confidential documents.
Pinto's investigations extended far beyond football. In particular, he was a source of material for the Luanda Leaks project, which revealed details of the business dealings of Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos. She denied allegations of corruption.
