Mario Ferri - the footballer behind brave Qatar World Cup rainbow flag protest

Had it not been for Bruno Fernandes or Cristiano Ronaldo, then Mario Ferri would've been the most-talked about name after Portugal's 2-0 victory over Uruguay at the World Cup.

That's because minutes before Fernandes - or Ronaldo if you believe that the ball skimmed his hair - opened the scoring, the infamous Italian ran across Stadium 974's pitch with a rainbow flag and wearing a t-shirt which had on it two messages; 'Save Ukraine ' and 'Respect For Iranian Women'.

Ferri left the flag on the pitch in a symbol of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. He was then removed by security after the first major incident of protest at the World Cup in Qatar, a state which outlaws homosexuality and has an atrocious human rights record. But Ferri's activism goes far beyond the Middle East in 2022, and his own story is a tale in itself.

Born on April 13, 1987 in Pescara, Italy, he was gifted enough to become a footballer but would wind up having much more of an impact interrupting matches in which he wasn't playing. As of March, the 35-year-old was still under contract with an Indian second-division side, United Sports Club, making it the third continent on which he plays football professionally.

He hasn't been scoring goals for the Kolkata-based side, though, but rather living in Poland helping refugees from Ukraine find asylum after Russia invaded in February. "I have a friend here [in Poland] and he told me what was going on," Ferri explained to CBS Sports.

"I'm concrete person, and what I saw in India really touched me. People there are suffering so much. I needed to give something back even in a totally different context. So I flew to Poland, rented a car and drove to the border with Ukraine." he added. "I do it on my own. I pay for everything and I want nothing back. I almost had a fight the other day because I saw a man asking money for doing what I do. It's unacceptable, people are desperate here and there are few that want to make a business out of it.

"I go to Lviv, look for people that need help and I drive for five, 10, 15 hours. Lviv is like a harbor for Ukrainians who want to leave the country. Outside the country [in Poland especially] is full of people that are helping, but inside Ukraine many are worried that something can happen to them."

So what of his exploits when it comes to disrupting high-profile football matches, which he's more widely known for? Well, back in October 2010, Ferri garnered a following in Italy after a series of pitch invasions - mostly notably a Champions League clash between AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Two months later, he found himself arrested in Abu Dhabi after interrupting the Club World Cup final between Inter Milan and Congolside side Mazembe. Ferri dressed in a bespoke Superman t-shirt with the added slogan "Free Sakineh," a reference to the Iranian woman who was then at risk of being stoned to death.

Having already gathered on a following on social media, he revealed his plan on Facebook. "I hope they don't catch me, otherwise I will be in a heap of trouble," Ferri told fans long before he surpassed the 100,000 follower count on Instagram. At the time, he was under house arrest back in Italy, having begun his pitch invading antics one during Napoli 's trip to Sampdoria in May 2010.

The story centres on Antonio Cassano; the talented but divisive striker who wasn't expected to be chosen to represent Italy at the World Cup in South Africa. Ferri was a huge fan, so he cunningly disguised himself as a steward before leaping over the hoardings, sporting the statement "Cassano in Nazionale."

It was a message to then-Italy boss Marcello Lippi to call him up - but it fell on deaf ears. Cassano, who'd even escorted "good boy" Ferri off the pitch and told officials that he'll "vouch for him" - wasn't picked up and the Azzurri crashed out at the group stage, prompting his biggest supporter to make his point at a another match in the tournament.

Ferri invaded the pitch during Spain 's semi-final clash with Germany, waving a vuvuzela while wearing a t-shirt reading, 'Lippi I told you so'. And he cropped up at the following World Cup in 2014; this time for political reasons, relating to Brazil's poverty-stricken areas who'd failed to benefit from the £9.7million tournament.

Ferri disrupted Belgium and USA 's group-stage meeting, once again wearing his trademark Superman t-shirt which read: "Save Favelas Children." Three years later, Serie A saw him again when Napoli hosted Juventus in April 2017 - Gonzalo Higuain 's first return to San Paulo since controversially departing. The Argentine striker was accosted by Ferri, who threw a light blue scarf at him.

Concentrating on his humanitarian efforts and footballing career in the years since, he felt compelled to make a statement in Qatar on Monday. Shortly before Fernandes' goal which set Portugal on their way to beating Uruguay, Ferri proudly held a rainbow flag in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, and showed his support for victims in Ukraine and the brave protesting Iranian public.

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