LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A Portuguese hacker whose explosive revelations rattled European soccer told judges at the start of his trial Friday that he was “disgusted” by what he uncovered and had acted in the public interest for no personal gain.
A Lisbon court is hearing the case against 31-year-old Rui Pinto, who was extradited last year from Hungary where he had lived since 2015, after his exposés on the “Football Leaks” website. The disclosures embarrassed star players, top clubs and influential agents between 2015-18.
Pinto, wearing a dark blue open-necked shirt, jeans and sneakers, sat alone in the court facing three black-robed judges, as is customary in Portugal.