Benfica: Rui Pinto cost us five in a row, defence hits back | OneFootball

Benfica maintains that it did not lose a five-time championship due to its own fault, but rather due to the cyber attack by Rui Pinto on its system between 2015 and 2019. The creator of 'Football Leaks' is facing dozens of charges of unlawful access, which his defense considers already decided.

"Benfica claims that it was not a five-time champion due to a state of anxiety of the players and the structure. The footballers deal weekly with the pressure of thousands of fans in stadiums or social networks, injuries, and family problems. Now, they want to convince this court that Benfica's players did not perform on the field due to this. This is to ridicule the athletes themselves," said Luísa Teixeira da Mota, the hacker's lawyer, in court.

In court, the lawyer also recalled old statements by Rui Vitória, then coach of Benfica, who stated that it "was never a topic of conversation" in the locker room. She also mentioned that Luís Filipe Vieira, former president of the club, recently told TVI that a goal conceded in the 90th minute was decisive for the loss of the championship.

"Benfica had one less point that season, compared to the previous season. 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 see its sponsorships terminated.

Quoted by Lusa, Luísa Teixeira da Mota criticized the judicial system, which "is harsh on those who denounce and tolerant with those who are denounced".

"To punish in an aggravated way someone who exposed crimes, even obtaining information by illicit means, sends an ambiguous message to society. The system is harsh on those who denounce and tolerant with those who are denounced. This reversal does not serve justice and 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. We only ask that he be judged with balance and justice," she ruled.

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

Recall that, in September 2023, the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon 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.