Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto told a Lisbon court on Friday at the opening of his trial that his “Football Leaks” are “a reason for pride and not shame”.

“I was outraged by what I discovered and I decided to make it public,” the 31-year-old said in a brief initial statement at the start of a trial expected to last several months.

“My job as a whistleblower is over,” he added, his face covered by a mask. “I never did anything for money.”