Notorious pitch invader strikes again during Norway 5-0 Israel with message for Gaza – Football Italia

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 05: A fan is escorted out after a pitch invasion before the TIM Cup match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio San Paolo on April 5, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

A notorious pitch invader from Italy, Mario Ferri, struck again during the World Cup qualifier between Norway and Israel on Saturday evening, entering the field of play with a message of support for the people of Palestine: ‘Free Gaza’. 

Ferri, nicknamed Il Falco (‘The Falcon’) entered the field of play during Norway’s 5-0 win over Israel on Saturday evening, wearing his usual blue superman t-shirt with a message on the front and back that read: ‘Free Gaza’. Norway and Israel are in the same World Cup qualifying group as Italy.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 38-year-old, who originally comes from Pescara, was briefly taken to hospital after his stunt on Saturday to check over a deep cut on his hand. 

Who is Norway-Israel pitch invader Marco Ferri? 

Ferri has invaded the pitch during several previous high-profile matches over the last 20 years, beginning in Italy and later expanding across the globe. 

He famously entered the pitch on numerous occasions during the 2000s, demanding the inclusion of Antonio Cassano in Italy’s 2010 World Cup squad, a stunt that proved to be unsuccessful. 

He also invaded the pitch during the FIFA Club World Cup final between Inter and Mazembe in Abu Dhabi with the words ‘free Sakineh’, in reference to Sahineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who had, at that time, been sentenced to death by stoning. 

Ferri also made it onto the pitch during the 2011 Champions League final, and successfully placed a Milan scarf around the neck of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

He also made an appearance at the 2014 World Cup, displaying the message ‘Save Favelas Children’ during the group-stage match between Belgium and the USA in Salvador, Brazil. 

His most famous stunt came during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he made it onto the pitch during the group stage match between Portugal and Uruguay with a t-shirt displaying the messages ‘Save Ukraine’ and ‘Respect for Iranian Women’, while holding an LBTGQ+ flag. 

Ferri, in recent years, has focussed on his activism. Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ferri rented a hire car, drove from Pescara to Poland and claimed to have helped over 60 individuals flee to safety.