Monday’s World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay was briefly interrupted after an intruder waved a rainbow flag on the pitch at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
FIFA TV feeds around the world avoided showing the intruder on the pitch, but the person could be seen running onto the pitch from behind the flag while being pursued by security.
Bruno Fernandes scored two goals in the second half to win 2-0 and qualify for the European knockout stage.
A pitch invader incident occurred in the 51st minute of the game. Iranian referee Alireza Fagani was later seen holding the flag from the pitch.
Getty Photos showed the flag bearer wearing a shirt that read “RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN” on the back and “SAVE UKRAINE” on the front.
The pitch invader has since been identified as Italian Mario Ferri, describing himself as a “footballer” and a “modern pirate” on his Instagram feed.
In a series of posts to his Instagram story, Ferri called himself the “new Robin Hood” and outlined his meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his arrest.
He wrote, “I will call it ‘the last dance.’ My last run in a playground, I wanted to send important messages for me that I have experienced on my skin in the past months.”
“1) A message to Iran, who has friends who are suffering and where women are not respected… The world must change.. We can do it.
“2) FIFA banned the rainbow captain’s armband and the human rights flag in the stands. They blocked everyone but me, like Robinhood 2.0. I brought the message of PEOPLE. WE wants a free world that respects all races and all ideas.
3) Save Ukraine. During the war, I spent a month in Kyiv as a volunteer and saw how these people suffered.
“Breaking the rules if you do it for a good cause is NEVER A CRIME,” Ferri added.
A statement to CNN from the Supreme Commission for Delivery and Heritage, which has been in charge of overseeing infrastructure projects and planning the World Cup since the World Cup began in 2011, said that pitch intruders would not attend the match was said to be banned.
“Following the pitch invasion that took place during last night’s Portugal v Uruguay match, we can confirm that the individual involved was released shortly after being removed from the pitch. His embassy has been informed,” it said.
“As a consequence of his actions, and as is standard practice, his Hayya Card has been cancelled and he has been banned from attending future matches at this tournament.”
All World Cup ticket holders are required to apply for a Haya Card as it acts as a visa to Qatar and is used to identify fans.
CNN has reached out to FIFA and the organizers of the tournament in Qatar for details of the incident.
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