Chelsea CISO: "Mass sporting events have become a prime target for hackers"
Chelsea CISO: "Mass sporting events have become a prime target for hackers"
"Sport, like any other industry, is undergoing a profound digital transformation. Technology is revolutionizing player performance. Big data and artificial intelligence influence how we develop players, but they also change everything—from how we secure the audience to how we use digital platforms," said Victor Murineanu.
Victor Murineanu - Mind the Tech London
(Alex Kolomoyski)
"Mass sporting events, including football, have become a prime target for hackers," said Victor Murineanu, CISO at Chelsea Football Club, at the Calcalist and Bank Leumi Mind the Tech conference in London. Murineanu presented a troubling picture of the digital threats facing the world of sports, particularly football.
"Sport, like any other industry, is undergoing a profound digital transformation. Technology is revolutionizing player performance. Big data and artificial intelligence influence how we develop players, but they also change everything—from how we secure the audience to how we use digital platforms," said Murineanu.
He emphasized the growing cyber risks to global sports: "The entire ecosystem is increasingly reliant on digitization—from sensitive medical data about players to contracts. This makes cybersecurity more critical and affects the trust of our audience."
Murineanu outlined a chilling scenario of a cyberattack on a stadium: "Imagine you're at the stadium, holding a glass of beer, with the best seat your friend arranged for you. Then, your team scores a goal, but instead of the replay, the screen shows a terrifying war scene. Suddenly, the stadium goes dark, a sinister voice demands everyone to leave immediately, but the doors are locked, and panic ensues." He stressed that this nightmare scenario isn't far-fetched: "In a reality where all systems in the stadium are interconnected, this isn't a future vision—it's something that could happen."
Murineanu cited examples of cyberattacks in the sports world: "A hacker group called Fancy Bear, linked to the Russian government, attacked the 2016 Olympics, stealing sensitive medical information about American athletes to embarrass the U.S."
He also mentioned the Football Leaks scandal, one of the largest data breaches in football history, which exposed shady financial transactions and tax evasions by Europe's biggest football stars: "It was one of the biggest cyber incidents in football. The estimated value of the attack exceeded a billion dollars, affecting numerous organizations, players, and clubs like Manchester City."
Murineanu also spoke about the specific threats to player transfers: "Transfers happen during transfer windows, and teams often delay negotiations until the last minute to maintain control. These last-minute deals are prime targets for phishing attacks, leaving teams vulnerable to hackers."
Concluding his speech, Murineanu underscored the growing importance of cybersecurity in football: "Many teams are heavily investing in security, which is becoming increasingly crucial. Cybersecurity and the protection of players' information are gaining importance, and we're seeing more regulation. The Premier League, for example, ensures that all teams in the ecosystem are doing everything to safeguard information."
