World Cup 2022 protester who stormed pitch with rainbow flag is revealed to be Italian footballer-turned-campaigner
THE pitch invader who protested the World Cup during Portugal’s win over Uruguay is a former football player.
Mario Ferri, aka ‘The Falcon’, stormed onto the pitch waving a Pride flag and wore a t-shirt that bore the message ‘Save Ukraine’ and ‘Respect for Iranian Woman [sic]’.
GettyMario Ferri waved a Pride flag as he stormed the pitch during Portugal vs Uruguay[/caption]
GettyThe Italian wore a superman t-shirt bearing the words ‘Save Ukraine’[/caption]
GettyFerri was apprehended by security and later let go[/caption]
Instagram / @marioferrifalcoThe former footballer most recently played for Indian second-division side United Sports Club[/caption]
Instagram / @marioferrifalcoFerri has campaigned to raise awareness for children living in favelas in the past[/caption]
Instagram / @marioferrifalcoHe once stormed a game to call for Antonio Cassano to be called up to the 2010 World Cup[/caption]
He was apprehended by security but later took to Instagram to reveal he was not facing any legal repercussions and was let go.
The Italian, 35, most recently played for Indian second-division side United Sports Club and since leaving the club he has worked in Ukraine helping refugees reach safety.
Ferri is no stranger to invading pitches and previously halted a game at the 2014 World Cup to raise awareness for the campaign to save favela children.
In 2009 the activist stormed the match between Italy vs Netherlands to demand striker Antonio Cassano was called up to the World Cup.
He has since focused his attention on the Ukraine war and the thousands of refugees that have been forced to flee.
In a message on social media Ferri outlined the motivations behind his pitch invasion at the World Cup.
He wrote: “I will call it “The Last Dance”. My last run on a playing field, I wanted to send important messages for me that I have lived on my skin in the past months…
“1) A message for Iran where I have friends who are suffering, where women are not respected… THE WORLD MUST CHANGE, we can do it together with STRONG gestures that come from the heart, WITH COURAGE.
“2) Fifa banned captain armbands with rainbow and human rights flags in the stands, they blocked everyone BUT NOT ME, like a Robinhood 2.0 I carried the message of the PEOPLE
We want a free world that respects all races and all ideas.
“3) SAVE UKRAINE. I spent a month in the war in Kiev as a volunteer and I saw how much those people are suffering.
WE WANT PEACE IN UKRAINE, SAVE UKRAINE.
“Thanks for all the messages of love coming to me from the world, Iran and Ukraine
“Breaking the rules if you do it for a good cause IS NEVER A CRIME .”
Seven nations, including England and Wales, planned for their skippers to wear One Love armbands in their opening World Cup matches.
The armbands promote inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights, with same-sex relationships illegal in Qatar.
Alongside the above three, Germany, France, Belgium, and Switzerland had all also wanted their captains to wear them.
But the seven skippers were warned by Fifa that they faced a yellow card as a “minimum” punishment for wearing the armbands.
