The hacker who sparked Man City's downfall

Rui Pinto leaked the emails that led to Manchester City's Premier League charges — now BBC Sport traces the man behind Football Leaks.

J. Pinto

player

View profile →

What happened. Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto published a cache of confidential Manchester City documents through his website Football Leaks, including internal emails about sponsorship deals and payments. That material ultimately led to the Premier League charges for breaching financial rules and Friday's news that the club had been found guilty of the majority of the 115 counts.

• Pinto is seen by some as a criminal who stole information with sinister intentions.
• Others view him as a whistleblower who exposed football's darker side.
• BBC Sport travelled across Europe to profile him, speaking to his former teacher and a Portuguese politician.

Pinto's leaks remain the catalyst for the City investigation, and his court cases continue as the football world weighs his legacy.

In this story

J. PintoManchester City

More to read

Arseblog

Rui Pinto has done football a service

The Guardian

Manchester City guilty verdict ‘a historic decision’, says whistleblower Rui Pinto

BBC Sport

Who is hacker whose revelations led to Man City charges?

GiveMeSport

Agbonlahor: Man Utd Could Sign Man City Star Elliot Anderson for Half Price