Football Leaks founder Rui Pinto has reportedly held discussions with British authorities about helping investigate financial and sporting crime, after offering to co-operate in exchange for police protection.

Al Jazeera, citing a Guardian report published Wednesday, said the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office had contacted Pinto’s lawyers. The reported discussions come amid uncertainty over his protection arrangements in Portugal, where he has been a protected witness since 2020.

The SFO did not confirm the contact when approached by Al Jazeera. “In line with long-established practice to avoid prejudice to law enforcement activity, we can neither confirm nor deny any investigation into this matter,” it said in an emailed statement.

Pinto’s lawyer, William Bourdon, was quoted by the Guardian as saying: “I can confirm that the process is under way.” Al Jazeera also reported that Pinto reposted an article about the discussions on social media. No agreement on a British role or protection arrangement was confirmed in the supplied reporting.

Pinto, 38, founded Football Leaks, which obtained private documents that helped trigger an investigation into Manchester City’s finances. His disclosures exposed information about the financial dealings of European football clubs.

Last month, Pinto said he feared for his life after being told his Portuguese witness protection would end on October 10. He said he had received multiple death threats and faced a serious risk of an assassination attempt. He launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance relocation to an undisclosed location.

Portugal’s Ministry of Justice subsequently said his protection would be extended pending a new hearing, after his lawyers challenged the decision, according to Al Jazeera.

Pinto’s disclosures have also brought criminal proceedings against him. In September 2023, he received a four-year suspended sentence for illegally obtaining documents, other cybercrimes and attempted extortion. In a separate trial in April 2026, he was acquitted on 241 counts after the court ruled the charges invalid.

He became a protected witness in August 2020 after agreeing to give Portuguese authorities access to millions of files gathered before his arrest. Pinto has described himself as a whistleblower rather than a hacker.

Sources