Mario Ferri carries a lot of messages when he performs the “field invader” action, and has been doing it since 2009!
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is no stranger to controversy and political positions. Whether it’s the ongoing push for LGBTQ+ inclusion or Qatar’s desire for fans around the world to respect the country’s culture in the region.
The league has provided a platform for individuals and groups to get their messages across, including Mario Ferri, who invaded the pitch during the Uruguay-Portugal match.
At the game, Ferri carried a rainbow flag attached to the symbol of LGBTQ+ people. Also, there were messages on her shirt that read “Save Ukraine” and “respect Iranian women”.
Who is Mario Ferri really?
The 35-year-old Italian figure has already appeared in football matches, legally. He has been a footballer for the past nine years, recently signed by Indian second division club United Sports Club.
He has now returned to his hometown Pescara after the league was suspended in March due to the Covid outbreak.
However, it was the protests of the activists on the pitch that brought him more fame than his exploits as a footballer. Yesterday’s action wasn’t the first time Ferri invaded the pitch to attract attention. This action was done more than a decade ago!
When did Ferri invade the field first?
Italy v Holland – 2009
The first time he took the field was in 2009, even though he wasn’t political at all. He took the field in the match between Italy and Holland, begging the then blue coach, Marcello Lippi, to take Antonio Cassano to the following year’s World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately Ferri’s message was ignored and Italy was eliminated early from the tournament. Then he had a message for Lippi, saying only: “I told you so”.
Inter v Mazembe – 2010
This is the first of the politically motivated protests. In the final of the 2010 Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, Ferri took to the field with the message ‘Free Sakineh’. It refers to Iranian Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who served nine years on death row before being released in 2014.
Belgium vs USA – 2014
During the World Cup in Brazil, Ferri made another trip away and, during the round of 16 match between Belgium and the United States, he took to the field again with a message in which he begged the powerful to save the kids from the favelas of the host country .
Support for Ukraine
Away from the field and football in general, Ferri has been a driving force in helping Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. He took it upon himself to travel from his hometown in eastern Italy to the Ukraine to help citizens flee the now war-torn country.
He rented a car to help evacuate people from Lviv, taking them to Poland. She has helped 60 people in the process, as she announced on her Instagram.
What happened to Ferri after the Qatar incident?
Ferri has never seemed far from controversy, with his action during the 2022 World Cup being the latest of many.
Fortunately, Ferri has been released from custody even though he will not be able to participate in the rest of the tournament. It is doubtful that he will accept. He delivered his message and the world is talking.
