The vigil at the door of the Prison attached to the Judicial Police (PJ) in Lisbon was promoted by the Mais Cidadania Movement and brought together around two dozen people, who were holding photographs of Rui Pinto and lighting candles, with psychologist and commentator Joana Amaral Dias among them supporting the cause.

She said that the vigil was aimed at requiring the Portuguese state to apply the 4th directive on money laundering, which requires all EU member states to protect people who report such crimes, something that Rui Pinto has done and is not being protected, because he is being detained preventively pending trial.

"Rui Pinto should not be imprisoned, he should be called upon to collaborate with the Portuguese justice, as has been the case in Belgian, German, Angolan and French justice over Football Leaks.

"What is happening in Portugal today is unacceptable, because we have someone who is contributing to the resolution of crimes who is in prison, while all the others, from Ricardo Salgado, to Oliveira and Costa, to Isabel dos Santos are free, in the face of the crimes of millions and millions”.

Joana Amaral Dias added that Rui Pinto "has made his mistakes, but he has made a very important, very valuable contribution to Portuguese society and can still contribute more, which is why he has to be released".