Football Leaks Whistleblower Stevan Pinto Loses Portugal Witness Protection Amid Ongoing Threats

Stevan Pinto, the former professional footballer who became central to the Football Leaks scandal, will be removed from Portugal’s witness protection programme following a decision effective 10 October.

Pinto, 37, entered the programme in 2020 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and supplying documents obtained through the Football Leaks operation, which exposed internal communications at several European football clubs, including Manchester City.

On Friday, he took to X to argue that the termination of his protection has placed him in a “life-threatening situation.” He said the decision left him with no choice but to relocate to an undisclosed location for an indefinite period, citing “multiple death threats” and “the serious risk of an assassination attempt.”

The BBC has sought comment from Portugal’s Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crimes regarding the decision.

Although Pinto has identified himself as a whistleblower, he was convicted in Portugal of offences including unauthorised access to data and attempted extortion, receiving a four-year suspended sentence. Heightened security measures, including a bulletproof vest for Pinto, were in place during his first trial in 2020.

In a partial reversal earlier this year, he was acquitted at a second trial on 241 counts relating to the unauthorised access of email accounts belonging to various Portuguese sporting organisations, among them Benfica.

On Wednesday, Pinto directed new criticism at FIFA president Gianni Infantino, describing him as having “become a cancer on football” and arguing he “should have no place in the future of the game.”

In doing so, Pinto reiterated claims first made in 2018 that Infantino intervened to shield Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain from financial fair play sanctions imposed by UEFA, European football’s governing body.

Infantino’s tenure has recently drawn intensified scrutiny, particularly over proposals to sell stakes in FIFA’s major tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors.

A statement released by Pinto’s legal team on Friday warned that ending his participation in the protection scheme significantly elevates his risk, highlighting that legal proceedings arising from the leaks remain active, including the case involving Manchester City.

Pinto has also launched a fundraising page to help him “survive this serious situation,” which he asserts was “created by the Portuguese State.”

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