World Cup pitch invader Mario Ferri has been released without charge in Qatar after he brought a rainbow flag onto the pitch, and claimed that Fifa’s president helped to ‘resolve the situation’.
Ferri ran onto the field during Portugal’s group-stage win over Uruguay on Monday (28 November), carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a T-shirt that read “Save Ukraine” on the front and “Respect for Iranian Women” on the back.
Ferri was tackled by numerous security guards at the Lusail Stadium, but the Italian was back on social media on Tuesday (29 November) and said that he faces no charges.
Ferri wrote in an Instagram post, “I’M BACK,” and added in an Instagram story, “No legal consequences, I am free,” before telling Catalan radio station RAC 1 that Fifa president Gianni Infantino “came to me personally [and] resolved the situation”.
Numerous fans have had rainbow-themed clothing and items confiscated at the Qatar World Cup, with the colours linked to the LGBTQ+ community, while homosexuality is criminalised in Qatar.
This edition of the World Cup has come under great criticism due to the state’s laws and attitudes towards homosexuality, as well as other alleged human-rights abuses and thousands of reported migrant-worker deaths.
Meanwhile, Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February, and Iran has seen many anti-government protests in recent weeks after a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died after being detained by police for wearing her hijab ‘improperly’.
Thirty-five-year-old Ferri, who has run onto the pitch at past World Cups, is reportedly a former football player who competed in India.
