Pitch invader in court
Nabbed: A soccer fan is detained by security after invading the pitch during the World Cup semifinal match between Germany and Spain at the stadium in Durban.
He claims to be promoting "world peace" but Italian Mario Ferri had another agenda when he ran on to the field disrupting the Spain/Germany semifinal - protesting the exclusion of his adored footballer Antonio Cassano from his country's national team.
And while his previous pitch invasions in Italy - and the stadiums ban and prison time he got for them - were not mentioned during his trial in the Durban magistrate's court on Thursday, the Internet was abuzz with the latest antics of the handsome 23-year-old who has become a pitch invading legend and, to some, a hero in his home country
He did not come to South Africa to watch any games, it emerged in court.
He arrived on an Emirates flight on Monday with a wheelchair and his "superman" blue t-shirt -sponsored by an Italian cafe and travel company - proclaiming "peace in the world" and "Cassono in nazionale (Lippi te 'avevo ditto), referring to Cassono's exclusion and "I told you so, Lippi (Italy manager Marcello Lippi).
He managed to secure a ticket for the game only yesterday and then wheeled his way into the Moses Mabhida Stadium and into a specially designated area for disabled people which is close to the pitch.
Just minutes into the game, he stood up and ran on to the field, stopping play until a few burly policemen picked him up and literally tossed him off the pitch.
Italian consul in Durban, Ugo Ciarlatani, who attended Ferri's trial in the special Fifa court, said he had been at the game on Wednesday night.
Nabbed: A soccer fan is detained by security after invading the pitch during the World Cup semifinal match between Germany and Spain at the stadium in Durban.
He claims to be promoting "world peace" but Italian Mario Ferri had another agenda when he ran on to the field disrupting the Spain/Germany semifinal - protesting the exclusion of his adored footballer Antonio Cassano from his country's national team.
And while his previous pitch invasions in Italy - and the stadiums ban and prison time he got for them - were not mentioned during his trial in the Durban magistrate's court on Thursday, the Internet was abuzz with the latest antics of the handsome 23-year-old who has become a pitch invading legend and, to some, a hero in his home country
He did not come to South Africa to watch any games, it emerged in court.
He arrived on an Emirates flight on Monday with a wheelchair and his "superman" blue t-shirt -sponsored by an Italian cafe and travel company - proclaiming "peace in the world" and "Cassono in nazionale (Lippi te 'avevo ditto), referring to Cassono's exclusion and "I told you so, Lippi (Italy manager Marcello Lippi).
He managed to secure a ticket for the game only yesterday and then wheeled his way into the Moses Mabhida Stadium and into a specially designated area for disabled people which is close to the pitch.
Just minutes into the game, he stood up and ran on to the field, stopping play until a few burly policemen picked him up and literally tossed him off the pitch.
Italian consul in Durban, Ugo Ciarlatani, who attended Ferri's trial in the special Fifa court, said he had been at the game on Wednesday night.