Social media influencer Joshua Kravchenko has revealed he spent five hours in jail following an attention-seeking pitch invasion during a World Cup match in Seattle. Kravchenko, who boasts over 150,000 Instagram followers, and three companions scaled barriers and entered the field, causing a temporary halt to the game between Belgium and Senegal.
While Kravchenko's friends made it onto the pitch, he was apprehended by security personnel before reaching the playing area and was subsequently detained. His companions were tackled by security. Kravchenko later posted an image of himself being escorted by security, with the caption: "Straight to jail for five hours."
The group, who were all wearing Belgium shirts but are understood to be American, are also expected to face a ban from FIFA and potentially Lumen Field, though this has not yet been confirmed.
Kravchenko had previously gained online recognition over a decade ago for a viral video clip. It is unclear why the group attempted the pitch invasion, but at least two of them appeared to be wearing t-shirts promoting a betting company. Another individual in the group revealed a shirt that read: "Asians can too."
The disruption occurred while Senegal was leading 1-0. Belgium ultimately mounted a comeback, winning the match 3-2 in extra time. The Belgian team is scheduled to face the United States in the next round of the tournament, also in Seattle.