Pinto, whose leaks of private documents prompted the investigation into Manchester City, is understood to fear for his safety

More than a decade after Rui Pinto set up the Football Leaks website in a crusade triggered by the Fifa scandal in 2015, he finds himself in the middle of a growing storm. The former history student with trademark spiky hair who used to make extra cash selling books about the second world war has not held back with his statements on social media since Manchester City’s guilty verdict from an independent Premier League commission.

The first targets for Pinto, whose leaks of private documents prompted first Uefa then the Premier League to investigate City’s financial affairs, were what he alleged were the club’s “cheating” executives for demonstrating “a complete lack of respect for the rules”. On Wednesday he turned his attention to the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino.

Less than two hours later, Portuguese authorities confirmed Pinto would no longer be protected as a witness. That is understood to have come as a surprise to the 37-year-old, who finds himself without a job, a home or an income. He has been living in a safe house under protection and has never disclosed his location, and it is understood he has received no visitors.

The Guardian understands talks had been initiated to begin the process of reintegrating Pinto back into social and professional life. That initiative will be halted, leaving Pinto to fend for himself. He has been advised...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxNb0ZuSXdGcXlDcTJjQWxOcGtx...