Portuguese authorities delayed notice on ending witness protection for Manchester City whistleblower

According to documents obtained by The Guardian, Portugal’s Special Security Programmes Commission (CPES) met on 8 and 9 July to review the case of Rui Pinto, the whistleblower who supplied Manchester City with leaked information. The commission concluded that the threat level against him was low and that the special protection measures were no longer justified.

Despite the July decision, Portuguese authorities did not tell Pinto until 83 days later, leaving him in the dark for almost three months. The notice of termination was delivered only ten days before the protection was set to expire, giving him very limited time to arrange alternative security measures.

The delay has raised questions about the handling of high‑profile witness protection cases in Portugal, especially when the individuals involved are linked to major football clubs. While the authorities say the assessment was based on security criteria, critics argue that the communication process should have been more transparent and timely.

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