Pitch invader who carried rainbow flag says he will not face legal action

A PITCH invader who disrupted a World Cup group-stage match between Portugal and Uruguay with a rainbow flag said he will not face legal action in Qatar.

During the Group H match on Monday, activist Mario Ferri ran onto the pitch at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar wearing a Superman

T-shirt bearing the words “Save Ukraine” on the front and “Respect for Iranian woman” on the back.

Security officials chased after Mr Ferri, who was also holding a rainbow-coloured flag, before he was escorted away.

Fifa and the Supreme Committee confirmed in a statement that Mr Ferri was released “shortly after being removed from the pitch” and said his Hayya Card – an identity card – has been cancelled and he has been banned from attending future Qatar 2022 matches.

Mr Ferri, who is described in his Instagram bio as a footballer and influencer, updated his followers yesterday, saying “I am free”.

“So many emotions right now. No legal consequence, I am free,” Mr Ferri’s Instagram story – translated using an online translator – read yesterday.

In a post, the activist 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...”

Mr Ferri went on to share messages regarding the plight of Iranian women, the controversial attitude at Qatar 2022 towards LGBTQ+ support, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Thanks for all the messages of love coming to me from the world, Iran and Ukraine,” he wrote.

“Breaking the rules if you do it for a good cause is never a crime.”

Mr Ferri’s Instagram Stories show him in Qatar ahead of Portugal’s showdown with Uruguay – later he shared footage from the stands during the game, zooming in on Cristiano Ronaldo with the caption “eccolo il mio dio” or “here is my god”.

The 35-year-old has a profile on transfermarkt.com, a website which logs the careers of footballers – it describes him as an Italian right midfielder who joined Italian side ASD Castel di Sangro in the summer.