Rui Pinto: Hacker whose leaks rocked European football

Sports Rui Pinto, a Portuguese computer hacker whose Football Leaks website published confidential football documents, has emerged as a central figure in the controversy surrounding Manchester City's financial affairs. Pinto, 37, published confidential club documents, including internal emails concerning sponsorship agreements and payments, through Football Leaks.

The disclosures eventually contributed to the Premier League's case against Manchester City, which has now seen the club found guilty of the majority of the 115 financial-rule charges brought against it. Pinto established Football Leaks in 2015, saying his aim was to expose what he described as "the hidden side of football".

Varela said the information was obtained illegally but argued that publishing it created a public-interest dilemma for journalists.