REVEALED: Spectator who stormed World Cup match waving LGBT flag and wearing Superman t-shirt demanding ‘Respect for Iranian women’ is Italian footballer-turned-globe trotting pitch invader dubbed ‘The Falcon’ who has been helping Ukrainian refugees
- Mario Ferri stormed onto the pitch during the Portugal v Uruguay match
- The activist held up a Pride rainbow flag to protest Qatar’s anti-LGBT laws
- He also wore a t-shirt which said ‘Save Ukraine’ and ‘Respect Iranian women’
- ‘The Falcon’ has invaded pitches before, including at the 2014 Brazil World Cup
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The protestor who ran onto the pitch during the Portugal v Uruguay World Cup match in Qatar is a footballer-turned-globetrotting campaigner, it has been revealed.
Mario Ferri wore a blue superman t-shirt with the words ‘Save Ukraine’ written on the front as he stormed onto the pitch in the second half of the group stage match on Monday night.
The t-shirt also had ‘respect for Iranian woman [sic]’ written on the back in reference to the anti-regime protests in Iran in recent months.
Ferri, known as ‘The Falcon’ is an Italian footballer with second-division Indian side United Sports Club who has been working in Ukraine to drive refugees to safety in Poland.
He has invaded pitches several times before in Italy and South America to raise awareness for issues including to ‘save favela children’.
Campaigner Mario Ferri, stormed onto the pitch in the second half of the game waving the Pride flag
Mario Ferri, known as ‘The Falcon’, is an Italian footballer and humanitarian worker in Ukraine
Ferri was tackled to the ground by security during the pro-LGBT rights protest in Qatar
After running around the pitch for a few minutes, the demonstrator was led away by security
Footballer and activist Ferri had ‘respect for Iranian woman’ written on the back of his superman t-shirt
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Play had to be stopped when the flag-carrying demonstrator ran on to the pitch in the 50th minute of the game
He was bundled away by security after storming onto the pitch during the match between Portugal and Uruguay
The campaigner was even placed under house arrest in Italy for a string of pitch invasions and has form in World Cup pitch invasions, storming onto the pitch at the 2014 tournament in Brazil with his ‘favelas’ t-shirt.
Ferri was chased by security across the field as he held the Pride flag above his head at the Portugal v Uruguay match in Lusail before he was eventually grabbed and led away.
The match referee picked up the Pride flag after it was dropped on the turf as the man was bundled off to allow the game to continue after a few minutes of interruption.
Some fans cheered support for the protestor as he ran across the field before being dragged off.
Being gay is illegal in Qatar with a jail sentence of up to seven years, leading to huge controversy around the tournament.
Many players and pundits, including the Wales and Germany teams, have been embroiled in an argument with FIFA over their right to wear One Love armbands during their matches.
FIFA bosses threatened ‘unlimited’ disciplinary action and yellow cards if players wore the armband in support of highly controversial hosts Qatar.
Fans have also been stopped from wearing rainbow bucket hats and carrying rainbow flags in stadiums.
Ferri dropped the Pride flag on the middle of the pitch as he was chased by security, forcing play to stop
Match referee Alireza Faghani, an Iranian, picks up the rainbow flag as the man is led away. Play was restarted shortly after
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