The computer hacker who tried to take down Man City

Rui Pinto, a Portuguese computer hacker, gained notoriety for attempting to bring down Manchester City Football Club. Through his website, Football Leaks, Pinto revealed confidential club documents, including internal emails about sponsorship deals and payments. This led to Premier League charges for breach of financial rules, and Man City was found guilty of 115 counts.

Pinto, now 37, has been described as both a criminal and a truth-seeker by different people. Born in Portugal, Pinto grew up in Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto. He had a good academic record and was knowledgeable in computers. His former geography teacher, Mario Falcao, described him as a normal pupil who was sociable but not overly extroverted.

Despite his modest background, Pinto set up Football Leaks in 2015 to expose the hidden side of football. Initially, the website targeted Benfica and FC Porto, but later, it revealed documents related to major clubs and players, including Manchester City, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Data journalists at Der Spiegel, who published the leaked information, emphasized the importance of cross-checking and ensuring the public interest in their reporting.