The Fan Who Interrupted the Portugal-Uruguay Match Was Not Sentenced to Five Years
The Claim
The fan who disrupted the match between Portugal and Uruguay was sentenced to five years in prison.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users and pages in the MENA region claimed that the Italian invader of the match between Portugal and Uruguay with a rainbow flag was sentenced to five years in prison.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has investigated the claim and found it to be fake.
Did Qatar Release the Italian Fan Who Stormed Lusail Stadium Waving a Rainbow Flag?
The Qatari authorities have released the Italian fan who stormed the Lusail stadium during the Portugal-Uruguay match waving a rainbow flag, according to a statement by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Italian and global media outlets reported the release of the Italian football fan Mario Ferri after his detention. “After a brief detention, the authorities released him without further consequences,” the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The reports quoted Mario Ferri as saying that the Qatari authorities detained him for nearly an hour after he interrupted the football match and treated him well.
The Italian fan told the media that FIFA President Gianni Infantino helped get him released without any other consequences except banning him from attending the remaining matches of the FIFA World Cup.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – which, since its formation in 2011, has been responsible for overseeing the infrastructure projects and planning for the World Cup – confirmed to CNN that the pitch invader has been banned from attending more matches.
“As a consequence of his actions, and as is standard practice, his Hayya Card has been canceled, and he has been banned from attending future matches at this tournament,” CNN reported.
As Hayya cards act as a Qatari visa helping to identify the fans, all World Cup ticket holders must apply for one.
After his release, Mario Ferri wrote on his official Instagram account that he was fine and had not suffered any legal consequences.
Portugal vs. Uruguay
The match between Portugal and Uruguay was briefly interrupted by a pitch invader waving a rainbow flag on the field at the Lusail Stadium on Monday, November 28.
Wearing a blue shirt with the slogans “Save Ukraine” and “Respect for Iranian Women” and waving a rainbow flag, he interrupted the game before security forces stopped him.
According to CNN, The FIFA global television feed avoided showing the pitch invader, but the individual could be seen running on the field and waving the flag.
Portugal won the match 2-0 thanks to two Bruno Fernandes second-half goals, “a victory that ensured the European team’s qualification for the knockout stages,” reports noted.
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