Shocking! Computer hacker behind Man City’s 115-charge nightmare?

One of the biggest scandals in English football began with files that Manchester City never wanted the outside world to see.

Details: According to BBC Sport, Portuguese computer hacker Rui Pinto played a key role in triggering the investigation that eventually led to Manchester City facing 115 Premier League charges. Through his Football Leaks platform, Pinto published a large cache of confidential club documents, including internal emails concerning sponsorship agreements and payments.

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The leaked material was subsequently examined by journalists and football authorities, becoming one of the catalysts for investigations into City's financial affairs. The Premier League ultimately charged the club in February 2023 over alleged breaches covering several seasons.

The story has taken another dramatic turn. On September 25, 2026, BBC Sport reported that Manchester City had been found guilty of a majority of the 115 counts considered by the independent commission. The club is expected to appeal the decision.

Pinto remains an extremely controversial figure. Supporters describe him as a whistleblower who exposed information that would otherwise have remained secret, while critics point to the illegal methods used to obtain confidential data.

It is worth noting that Pinto founded Football Leaks in 2015. According to previously published BBC data, around 18.6 million documents were shared through his activities between 2015 and 2018, making the project one of the largest leaks ever seen in world football.

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