Culture

Notorious Soccer Prankster Nabbed After Facebook Update

For most of this year, a 23-year-old Italian soccer fan named Mario Ferri has been terrorizing stadium security and delighting fans on three continents with his antics (almost always involving Italian soccer) of running onto the field. However, Ferri may have been grounded for good, thanks to his loose lips and flair for the dramatic. Here's a look back at the Year of the Falcon, and how he was ultimately undone by his own actions.
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  • The Falcon Takes Off
  • Falcon Grounded
  • Scoping Out Security
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Finally, the Falcon has been snared. For most of this year, a 23-year-old Italian soccer fan named Mario Ferri has been terrorizing stadium security and delighting fans on three continents with his antics (almost always involving Italian soccer) of running onto the field, either in the name of activism or for his own seemingly unending amusement. However, Ferri may have been grounded for good, thanks to his loose lips and flair for the dramatic. Let's take a look back at the Year of the Falcon, and how he was ultimately undone by his own actions. Above:

The Falcon Takes Off

Ferri first made national news in May when he charged the field in Sampdoria during the club's Serie A match against Napoli. His shirt read "Cassano in Nazionale," which was a message to the coach of Italy's national soccer team to pick Antonio Cassano for the World Cup roster. (The coach ultimately did not.) Since the incident, he's technically been under house arrest in his home country.