Rui Pinto, the founder of Football Leaks, has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of abusing his authority and obstructing investigations into Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Pinto’s leaks in 2018 helped pave the way for the investigations into Manchester City, who are now awaiting possible sanctions after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
The Premier League said an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of all the alleged financial rule breaches covering nine seasons, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club was also found guilty of three of the four charges relating to its alleged failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation.
Pinto said on Thursday, in comments reported by Mundo Deportivo, that Infantino had been fully aware of the alleged irregularities while serving as UEFA General Secretary. He said the FIFA president should resign because of his role in the Manchester City case and the separate investigation involving Paris Saint-Germain.
Pinto also argued that Infantino, who was under pressure several months before the 2027 election, should have no involvement in the future of football because of his actions during those investigations.
Writing on X, Pinto said: “In 2014, there was a man who was already aware of the irregularities involving Manchester City. That man now runs FIFA.
“The infamous Gianni Infantino, then UEFA General Secretary, abused his authority, shared confidential documents and, in short, outmanoeuvred the investigators.”
Pinto claimed Infantino had worked to ensure that Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain received only financial penalties, rather than facing a broader investigation that could have resulted in both clubs being excluded from the Champions League.
“He did everything he could to ensure that both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain received only a financial fine, thereby avoiding a more comprehensive investigation that could have led to their exclusion from the Champions League,” he added.
The allegations relate to Infantino’s time at UEFA, before he became FIFA president. UEFA had previously reached settlements with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain over Financial Fair Play concerns, with both clubs receiving financial punishments rather than being removed from European competition.
Manchester City’s current case concerns alleged breaches across nine seasons and is separate from the earlier UEFA proceedings. The independent commission’s findings have increased anticipation over the sanctions the English club may face from the Premier League.
