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Rui Pinto, the Football Leaks founder whose disclosures helped trigger the Premier League investigation into Manchester City, will remain in witness protection after a U-turn by Portuguese authorities.
Pinto, 37, was due to lose his protection on Saturday, and warned earlier this month that the decision put his life at risk following a series of death threats.
But Portugal's Ministry of Justice confirmed on Friday that the decision had been overturned after it emerged Pinto had not been properly informed of the reasons behind it or given a chance to challenge the ruling.
"The protection program remains in effect until a new decision is adopted by the Special Security Programs Commission," the ministry said in a statement.
Pinto's disclosures -- shared documents with German magazine Der Speigel -- included confidential emails and financial records relating to City, who were recently found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
City have appealed the verdict.
Pinto has been in Portugal's witness protection programme since 2020, when he agreed to co-operate with authorities and hand over information obtained through Football Leaks.
His lawyers had challenged the decision to end his protection, pointing to threats against his life and an assault in Lisbon in April.
The decision has now been declared "null and void," although Pinto's protection...
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