Portuguese authorities pause plan to withdraw Rui Pinto’s witness protection
Portuguese authorities have suspended their decision to end Rui Pinto’s witness protection, allowing him to challenge the move. The commission responsible acknowledged that Pinto should have been told the reasons and given a chance to make his case before protection was withdrawn.
Pinto has 10 working days to review the risk assessment reports behind the decision, which said the threat to his safety was low, and respond. Protection was due to end on Saturday; it has been in place since 2020, after he agreed to share millions of files with investigators. Pinto has cited death threats and an assault in Lisbon, while his disclosures have contributed to investigations including the Premier League’s inquiry into Manchester City.
- Portugal has paused plans to end Rui Pinto’s witness protection.
- Pinto has 10 working days to challenge the decision.
- His disclosures have aided investigations into Manchester City and other matters.
New here? Start with this
Rui Pinto is a Portuguese whistleblower who leaked millions of confidential files to investigators, beginning in 2020. His revelations have fuelled significant investigations into financial misconduct in sport, including a Premier League inquiry into Manchester City.
Pinto has been living under witness protection since 2020 as a result of his cooperation with authorities. The protection was put in place due to security threats he faced from those implicated in his disclosures.
The question of whether Pinto still needs protection is contested. Portuguese authorities argue that the threat to his safety has diminished, whilst Pinto contends that genuine dangers remain, citing death threats and an assault he suffered in Lisbon as evidence of ongoing risk.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Risk assessments conducted by professional authorities have concluded that the threat to Pinto's safety is now low, and after six years of continuous protection since 2020, such provisions must eventually be evaluated against finite public resources and evidence-based threat assessment. Indefinite witness protection is not a sustainable policy, and authorities have a responsibility to discontinue security measures when professional evaluation suggests they are no longer necessary.
The case against
Pinto has documented specific threats to his personal safety, including death threats and a recent assault in Lisbon, and his disclosures remain actively consequential—they continue to fuel investigations such as that into Manchester City—making him an ongoing target for powerful interests with motive to harm him. Withdrawing protection from someone with a proven record of threats and violence directed at him, based on a risk assessment he disputes, prioritises administrative efficiency over credible evidence of genuine danger.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Rui Pinto to remain under witness protection after U-turn by Portuguese authorities”.