Italian hit by World Cup ban for pitch invasion

The protester who ran on to the pitch during a World Cup match, carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a Superman T-shirt with messages in support of Ukraine and Iranian women has been banned from attending any more matches during the tournament in Qatar.

The World Cup organising committee said in a statement that “the individual involved was released shortly after being removed from the pitch” and that his embassy has been informed.

“As a consequence of his actions, and as is standard practice, his (entry permit) has been cancelled and he has been banned from attending future matches,” the statement said.

The protester identified himself on social media as Mario Ferri, an Italian who has carried out similar stunts at football matches before.

Ferri ran on to the field in the second half of Monday’s match between Portugal and Uruguay, carrying a rainbow flag. Security officials chased him and he dropped the flag on the field before being escorted away.

“I’ll call it ‘the last dance,’ my last field invasion, I wanted to send important messages, which I’ve felt experienced first hand in recent months,” Ferri wrote in an Instagram post.

“We want a free world that respects all races and ideas.”

Protester Mario Ferri.