Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower behind the Football Leaks revelations, has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of helping Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain avoid tougher sanctions over UEFA financial fair play concerns in 2014.
Pinto claims Infantino, who was UEFA secretary general at the time, used his position to secure more lenient treatment for both clubs. He alleges that confidential documents were shared and that efforts were made to ensure Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain avoided a fine.
“From 2014, someone was aware of the irregularities concerning Manchester City. That man now runs FIFA,” Pinto wrote.
The Football Leaks disclosures made by Pinto formed the basis of several journalistic investigations into Manchester City. His latest accusations echo claims that emerged from the documents in 2018.
German magazine Der Spiegel reported at the time that Infantino had personally intervened in the financial fair play cases involving Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. It said he had helped the clubs reach more favourable agreements.
Pinto has now launched a strong personal attack on Infantino, questioning his conduct both during his time at UEFA and since becoming FIFA president.
“Considering his actions as UEFA secretary general and more recently as president of FIFA, I can only say that Gianni Infantino, in my humble opinion, has become a cancer for football and should have no place in the future of this sport,” he wrote.
Football Leaks brought a series of confidential football documents into the public domain, including material that led to scrutiny of Manchester City’s finances and its dealings with UEFA.
Pinto’s claims centre on the handling of the clubs’ financial fair play cases in 2014, when Infantino was UEFA’s secretary general. He says the Swiss official was aware of issues involving Manchester City and acted to limit the consequences for both clubs.
The allegations concerning Infantino’s role in those cases had already been reported through the Football Leaks documents. Pinto’s latest statement repeats the claim that he intervened directly, shared confidential information and helped Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain secure agreements that were less severe than the sanctions they might otherwise have faced.
