Hacker Linked with European Football Data Leaks Faces Over 100 Charges

• The data leaks included info such as player contracts, internal team financial documents, and confidential emails of Europian Clubs.
• Pinto’s lawyers are presenting their client as a “very important European whistleblower”.

An overview: Portuguese prosecutors, on Thursday, charged Rui Pinto (30) with 154 charges in a case linked to the publication of internal documents that embarrassed top European clubs and soccer officials.

No trial date has been set, but he faces a potentially long prison term.

What unfolded: A statement from the attorney general’s office Thursday said Rui Pinto is accused of alleged crimes connected to the release of secret information about the financial dealings of clubs.

The accusations include illegal access to data and attempted extortion.

“The accused used various computer programs and digital tools to enter, in an unauthorized and anonymous manner, the computer systems or email boxes and remove content from it,” prosecutors said in a statement.

The statement says the Football Leaks website published confidential information about players’ and coaches’ contracts and transfer fees, among other things.

Pinto’s lawyers are presenting their client as a “very important European whistleblower”.

Background: The computer hacker was arrested on January 16, in Hungary, and has been in detention in Portugal since March 21.

• The Football Leaks website began in 2015.
• European media started publishing documents that the website posted, thereby igniting many scandals.