Former Porto communications director Francisco J. Marques reinforced the public interest related to the information he disclosed on Porto Canal, collected from Rui Pinto, creator of Football Leaks. Marques stated that he was looking for elements that altered the sports truth and that were of public interest. The Football Leaks case involves several figures and institutions, including Benfica, the Portuguese Professional Football League, and the Tax Authority. Rui Pinto is on trial for a total of 241 crimes, including qualified illegal access, aggravated correspondence violation, and computer damage. The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon. Marques was part of the panel of the program Universo Porto da Bancada, on Porto Canal, where he revealed confidential information related to Benfica, through emails. The former Porto communications director committed to delivering everything he had to the Judicial Police. Rui Pinto was convicted in the Football Leaks case, in September 2023, by the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, to four years in prison with a suspended sentence, for crimes of attempted extortion, aggravated correspondence violation, and illegal access.