The hacker behind the explosive Football Leaks scandal has threatened to release a raft of Manchester City emails and documents – and is confident they will prove that the club deliberately cheated Financial Fair Play Rules.
It has been reported by the Sun that Rui Pinto, who gained access to thousands of City emails and leaked a large number to the media in 2018, has alleged he has provided authorities in Germany and France with ‘millions’ of damning documents that he claims will show ‘criminal relevancy’.
The 35-year-old has been in a witness protection programme since 2020. He was handed a four-year suspended sentence by a court in Portugal last year but avoided prison despite being found guilty of attempted extortion and illegal access to data.
Pinto is believed to have kept hold of the majority of the documents relating to City’s financial activities but previously leaked bombshell details on the club’s sponsorship income and specifics on former manager Roberto Mancini’s contract.
City vehemently deny any wrongdoing but are expected to face a hearing into their 115 Premier League charges for alleged financial irregularities this autumn.
The hacker behind the Football Leaks scandal has threatened to release documents he claims will prove Manchester City deliberately breached Financial Fair Play regulations
Rui Pinto gained access to thousands of City emails and leaked a large number in 2018
The club remain accused of concealing payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue – a flagrant FFP breach.
From his safehouse, Pinto told the OffShore-Alert Marbella Conference via video link: ‘The Man City releases showed amounts of money being paid into by the club that were not mentioned to the football authorities.
‘These documents are from part of the Premier League investigation into City. I have now handed five hard drives to French and German authorities with millions of documents, including more on City and I have described what is on each.
‘I am confident they will find criminal relevancy.’
A legal representative for Pinto added: ‘We have been approached by investigators to share information regarding Manchester City that has not been released before.
‘We haven’t released the information yet but we have a massive file of Manchester City-related documents that has yet to be released.
City have been accused of concealing payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue – a flagrant FFP breach (pictured: owner Sheikh Mansour)
Pinto has said he is ‘confident’ the new City documents will show ‘criminal relevancy’
City will face a hearing into their 115 Premier League charges months after winning the title
‘The files will be published at some point, we cannot say when but we will do it.’
Pinto’s past leaks saw UEFA hit City with a shock two-year European ban in 2020 for breaking financial restrictions – while the club were also fined almost £25million.
City, however, overturned their suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being cleared of ‘disguising equity funds as sponsorship contributions’. They were accused of breaching FFP between 2012 and 2016.
City said they were ‘surprised’ by the pending FFP investigation.
Launching a staunch defence, they added: ‘The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
‘As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.’
