Infantino should have no place in future of football - Pinto

The computer hacker who released documents which led to the Premier League investigation into Manchester City says Gianni Infantino "should have no place in the future of the game".

Rui Pinto, the computer hacker whose leaked documents helped trigger the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City, has turned his attention to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying the Swiss official "should have no place in the future of the game". The intervention adds fresh pressure on football's governing bodies at a time when questions over transparency and accountability remain unresolved. Pinto became widely known through the "Football Leaks" disclosures, a series of documents that exposed financial dealings involving clubs, agents and executives across Europe. Material linked to Manchester City ultimately contributed to the Premier League's independent investigation into the club. Pinto has faced legal consequences for his actions, but he has consistently presented himself as a whistleblower rather than a conventional cybercriminal. In his latest remarks, Pinto focused his criticism on Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016. He argued that while Infantino has overseen expansion of the World Cup and growth in commercial revenue, the governing body has not met expectations on governance, conflicts of interest and ethical standards. According to Pinto, football needs leaders who are genuinely willing to be scrutinised, not figures who preserve older networks of power. Infantino's tenure has not been free of controversy. From the process of awarding World Cup hosting rights to a series of ethics cases involving senior FIFA officials, and from his own close relationships with member associations and commercial partners, doubts about his decision-making have persisted. Supporters credit him with stabilising FIFA's finances; critics worry that rising revenues have come at the cost of institutional credibility. Pinto's criticism carries particular weight because of his direct connection to the Manchester City case. The Premier League investigation into the club involves allegations of financial rule breaches, and the proceedings have become one of the most consequential governance episodes in recent English football. Pinto suggested that such cases show the need for independent, transparent regulation rather than reliance on individual leakers to expose problems. More broadly, the clash between Pinto and Infantino reflects a deeper tension in football governance. The sport requires strong commercial development and global reach, yet fans and regulators increasingly demand fairness, transparency and accountability. How those competing priorities are balanced will shape the legitimacy of football's institutions over the coming decade. Pinto's call may not immediately alter the balance of power at FIFA, but the questions he raises are difficult to avoid. As financial investigations, regulatory scrutiny and supporter campaigns continue, football's leaders will face a central challenge: who gets to define the future of the game, and whether they are prepared to accept genuine oversight.

Infantino should have no place in future of football - Pinto

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