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Rui Pinto, the Portuguese hacker whose leaked documents triggered the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City, has now turned his attention to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, leveling a series of explosive allegations against a man he called "a cancer on football."
A phishing email Pinto sent to a senior City official in January 2017 compromised the club's servers, granting him access to thousands of internal emails that ultimately set the stage for the current landmark events. After allegations stemming from these leaks emerged, the Premier League launched a financial investigation into City, which has since culminated in an independent commission finding the club guilty of more than 100 violations.
City continue to strongly maintain their innocence. An appeal has been filed.
As the Premier League and wider football world debate the potential consequences of this historic verdict, Pinto has directed attention toward the controversial figure of Infantino.
"Back in 2014, there was a man who was already aware of the irregularities involving Manchester City," the activist posted on social media. "That man now runs FIFA.
"The notorious Gianni Infantino, then UEFA General Secretary, misused his position, shared confidential materials and, in essence, manipulated the Investigatory Chamber, doing everything within his power to ensure that both Manchester City and PSG would receive nothing more than a fine, sidestepping a thorough investigation that could have resulted in a Champions League ban. All of these details were also exposed through Football Leaks.
"Given his conduct as UEFA General Secretary and, more recently, as FIFA President, I can only say, in my humble opinion, that Gianni Infantino has become a cancer on football and has no place in the future of the game."
What Has Gianni Infantino Been Accused of?
The Premier League's probe into City was not the first time the club's financial dealings had faced scrutiny. As far back as 2014, UEFA examined their accounts—alongside those of Paris Saint-Germain—to determine whether either club had violated Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
Both clubs ultimately escaped competition bans, receiving only minor financial penalties. Pinto and German publication Der Spiegel, which served as the primary outlet for the hacker's revelations, alleged that Infantino "circumvented" UEFA's standard investigative procedures to defuse the situation and arrive at these lenient sanctions.
Among the most damaging documents cited in that 2018 report was an email allegedly authored by Infantino and sent to Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in May 2014, just weeks before the official punishment was announced.
"Sorry for my 'late-Friday-night email,'" Infantino is alleged to have written. "You will see that I've sometimes chosen a wording which 'looks' more 'strong.' Please read the document with this spirit. ... Finally, I would also like to thank you for your trust. You know you can trust me. ... Let's be positive!"