Reaction to pitch protestorpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2022
BBC Monitoring
The world through its media
Social media users praised a protestor who invaded the pitch of Portugal's World Cup group stage match with Uruguay wearing a "Save Ukraine" T-shirt with the words "Respect for Iranian Women" on the back and carrying a rainbow flag.
"This is Mario Ferri, an Italian activist. He transported to Poland Ukrainian women who were fleeing the war! Today he ran onto the pitch in Qatar wearing a 'Save Ukraine' T-shirt," the "Pukhanstyy Ukrayinobot" user said on Twitter, external. "Thank you, Mario! You are a real superman!"
Journalist Ostap Yarysh said on Facebook, external that Italian footballer and activist Mario Ferri has a tattoo of a trident, a Ukrainian national symbol, on his arm. "Mario got it in May. He had spent some time in Ukraine, providing humanitarian aid to people," Yarysh added.
The Bykvu news and analysis website took to Twitter, external to note that Ferri had helped evacuate Ukrainians, visited de-occupied Kyiv Region and "reported on crimes committed by the occupiers".
"Italian activist Mario Ferri deserves unbelievable respect," the Footballhub project tweeted, external.
"Thanks, buddy!" political scientist Serhiy Koshman said on Facebook, external.