Benfica blame Rui Pinto for missing fifth title, defence hits back | OneFootball

Benfica maintains that it did not lose a fifth consecutive championship due to its own fault, but rather because of Rui Pinto’s cyberattack on its system between 2015 and 2019. The creator of ‘Football Leaks’ faces dozens of charges of unlawful access, which his defense considers already decided.

“Benfica claims that it was not five-time champion due to a state of anxiety among the players and the staff. Footballers deal weekly with the pressure of thousands of fans in stadiums or on social media, injuries, and family problems. Now, they want to convince this court that Benfica’s players underperformed on the field because of this. This is ridiculing the athletes themselves,” said Luísa Teixeira da Mota, the hacker’s lawyer, in court.

In court, the lawyer also recalled previous statements by Rui Vitória, then Benfica’s coach, who said that “it was never a topic of conversation” in the locker room. She also mentioned that Luís Filipe Vieira, the club’s former president, recently stated on TVI that a goal conceded in the 90th minute was decisive for losing the championship.

“Benfica had one less point that season compared to the previous one. It was a minimal difference, it didn’t even get worse. This idea that the club collapsed is just dramatic fiction,” concluded Luísa Teixeira da Mota, noting that Benfica did not have its sponsorships terminated.

Quoted by Lusa, Luísa Teixeira da Mota criticized the judicial system, which “is harsh on whistleblowers and lenient with those who are reported.”

“To severely punish someone who exposed crimes, even if obtaining information by illicit means, sends an ambiguous message to society. The system is harsh on whistleblowers and lenient with those who are reported. This reversal does not serve justice or society. Rui Pinto’s defense does not ask that he be seen as a hero, victim, or saint. He committed acts that violate criminal law and deserves a legal response. All that is asked is that he be judged with balance and fairness,” she stated.

Rui Pinto is on trial for 241 crimes: 201 of qualified unlawful access, 22 of aggravated violation of correspondence, and 18 of computer damage.

It should be recalled that, in September 2023, the Lisbon Central Criminal Court sentenced the creator of ‘Football Leaks’ to four years in prison, with a suspended sentence, for crimes of attempted extortion, aggravated violation of correspondence, and unlawful access.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.