Man City hearing: Case 'moral reward' for Football Leaks hacker Rui Pinto - lawyer

Rui Pinto, the hacker behind Football Leaks, has been praised by his lawyer for his actions, which have helped to expose corruption in football.

Pinto is due to appear in court in Lisbon on Monday to face charges of hacking and extortion, but his lawyer, William Bourdon, said that the case was a "moral reward" for his client.

"Rui Pinto is a whistleblower who has helped to expose corruption in football," Bourdon said. "He has done a great service to the public and to the sport."

Pinto, a Portuguese citizen, was arrested in Hungary in 2019 and extradited to Portugal in 2021. He is accused of hacking into the computer systems of several football clubs and organisations, including Manchester City, Real Madrid, and the Portuguese Football Federation.

The charges against Pinto include hacking, unauthorised access to data, and attempted extortion. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

However, Bourdon said that he was confident that Pinto would be acquitted of the charges. He said that the case was "politically motivated" and that Pinto was being "persecuted" for his whistleblowing activities.

"Rui Pinto is a hero," Bourdon said. "He has exposed corruption in football and he has helped to make the sport cleaner and fairer."

Pinto's case has been widely followed by the international media. The case has also sparked a debate about the role of whistleblowers in society.

Some people believe that Pinto is a hero who has exposed corruption in football. Others believe that he is a criminal who has broken the law.

The outcome of Pinto's case will be closely watched by people all over the world.