Brazilian authorities on Wednesday
revoked the passport of an Italian football fan who invaded the
field during the Belgium-United States second-stage World Cup
match on Tuesday.
Mario Ferri, aka The Falcon, barged onto the field in the
16th minute of the game at Arena Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador
Bahia.
He sported a Superman T-shirt that said Save Favelas
Children and Ciro Lives, in honor of 29-year-old Neapolitan
football fan Ciro Esposito, who died on June 25 after he was
shot during fan violence before the Italian Cup final in May.
"They detained me for five hours and banned me from
attending any future matches", Ferri told ANSA.
Authorities are charging him with invading a playing field
and assuming a false identity after he finagled his way into the
stadium on a wheelchair and with a photographer's pass.
"This person is a terrible example and must be punished",
said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.
Ferri is known for his penchant for invading football
matches, including the Germany-Spain semifinal during the 2010
World Cup in South Africa and an Inter-Mazembe game in Abu Dhabi
the same year. On that occasion, he tried unsuccessfully to
evade arrest by stowing away on a cruise ship.
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