The fan who interrupted the match between Portugal and Uruguay with a rainbow flag in support of the LGBTQ+ community and a t-shirt in support of Ukraine and women from Iran was banned from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Mario Ferri took the field after the 61st minute with a rainbow flag – a symbol banned in stadiums – while his shirt read ‘Save Ukraine’. [salvem à Ucrânia] and ‘Respect for Iranian women’ [Respeito para as mulheres iranianas]🇧🇷
The 35-year-old Italian fan, who has a history of entering fields and who also entered Belgium-United States at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with the message ‘Save the children of the favela’, was released but banned from entering of stadiums in Qatar.
In a statement, the organizing committee of the 2022 Mundial also said today that Mario Ferri was “released shortly after being removed from the field”, that the embassy was aware but that he has not been banned from any World Cup matches.
“As a result of his actions and habit, his participation has been canceled and he has been banned from future matches in this tournament,” the organization said in a statement.
Already today, in a message published on his Instagram account, the Italian labeled Monday’s invasion as the “last dance”, explaining that he wanted to touch on important issues that were also on the agenda for him.
Ferri said regarding Iran where he says he has friends and women are not respected the world needs to change and it is done with strong gestures while regarding Ukraine he revealed that he worked as a volunteer in Kiev where he saw the suffering of the local population, yet another call for peace.
Regarding the rainbow flag, the Italian recalled that FIFA had banned it, as well as the symbols at this World Cup, but that in the role of ‘Robin of the Woods’ he wanted to pass on the message that what is wanted is a free world that includes all races and respect ideas.
updated at 16.10
Source: DN
