Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower behind an unprecedented leak that rocked European football, was given a four-year suspended sentence by a Lisbon court after being convicted of nine crimes, including attempted extortion and unauthorized entry into computer systems.
The 34-year-old, who rose to global prominence after being revealed as the creator of the Football Leaks website, faced 90 charges but benefited from Portugal’s recent amnesty for some young offenders.
In addition to operating the Football Leaks website, Pinto also shared millions of confidential documents with journalists from Der Spiegel, European Investigative Collaborations and other outlets between 2015 and 2018. The files revealed how the world’s top football clubs, players and executives used extensive offshore networks to dodge taxes and avoid scrutiny of their business dealings.
“The court decided Rui Pinto will be handed a single four-year sentence … but there is no need to serve the sentence in prison,” Judge Margarida Alves of the Lisbon Central Criminal Court said.
“The court hopes that the regret [Pinto has shown in court] is serious and that from now on he refrains from performing acts as described here.”
A three-judge panel convicted Pinto of hacking computers belonging to Doyen sports investment fund, the Portuguese attorney-general’s office and a Lisbon law firm, according to Associated Press. He was also ordered to pay 3,000 euros (roughly $3,200) to Doyen and 15,000 euros ($16,100) to...
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