Football Leaks back in focus after reported Manchester City ruling

Rui Pinto's Football Leaks disclosures have returned to the spotlight after the reported ruling against Manchester City. A BBC Sport investigation published on Saturday traces how confidential documents released by the Portuguese hacker helped trigger the Premier League's financial case against the club.

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Pinto launched Football Leaks in 2015, initially publishing material involving Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Porto. Internal City correspondence about sponsorship arrangements and payments was among the material that brought the club's finances under scrutiny, according to the BBC's reporting.

The investigation describes how Pinto shared tens of millions of documents with Der Spiegel journalist Rafael Buschmann. Journalists involved told the BBC they checked authenticity and public interest before publication.

Pinto's own conduct also brought criminal proceedings. In Portugal in 2023, he received a suspended four-year sentence for attempted extortion, unlawful data access and correspondence offences. A separate French trial led to a suspended six-month sentence. His lawyer told the BBC that Pinto had followed City's case while in witness protection.

In separate reporting, BBC Sport said an independent panel had upheld most of the Premier League charges against City. The league had not publicly announced the decision and declined to comment. City deny wrongdoing, and the BBC reported that the club intends to appeal. No punishment had been announced. The panel's decision has been communicated to other clubs, according to the BBC.

The club said the confidential process remained unfinished. According to the BBC, a sanctions hearing had not yet taken place and could take months. Possible consequences include a points deduction, a fine or expulsion, but none of those outcomes is confirmed. The case concerns alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.

Rival Premier League clubs are meanwhile obtaining legal advice about potential compensation, the BBC reported. Some had begun exploring their position before Friday's news. The reporting described possible individual claims or a league-coordinated process, rather than a settled arrangement. Any financial recovery for those clubs remains uncertain alongside City's unresolved sanctions and intended appeal.