A Danish crew was forced to interrupt a broadcast after being approached by security staff
The incident soon spread across social media. © Twitter / Rasmus Tantholdt
World Cup organizers in Qatar have apologized to a Danish TV station after a crew was seen being approached by security staff and told to stop filming during a live broadcast from a street in Doha.
Qatar is gearing up to host the FIFA football showpiece, which kicks off on Sunday when the hosts play Ecuador and runs until December 18.
Much of the media build-up to the tournament has focused on Qatar’s suitability as a venue, with particular scrutiny of the country’s treatment of migrant workers and laws on homosexuality.
Scenes involving a crew from Denmark’s TV2 channel have been used as further ammunition to criticize Qatar this week, and showed a live broadcast being interrupted by security officials who were accused of trying to break the team’s camera equipment.
We now got an apology from Qatar International Media Office and from Qatar Supreme Commitee. This is what happened when we were broadcasting live for @tv2nyhederne from a roundabout today in Doha. But will it happen to other media as well? #FIFAWorldCupQatar2022pic.twitter.com/NSJj50kLql
— Rasmus Tantholdt TV2 (@RasmusTantholdt) November 15, 2022
The footage was shared on social media by reporter Rasmus Tantholdt, and showed him speaking to a news anchor back in Denmark as three men pulled up behind him in an electric cart.
A member of the security group appeared to try and halt the broadcast, to which Tantholdt responded in English: “Mister, you invited the whole world to come here, why can’t we film? It’s a public place.”
Tantholdt later showed his accreditation credentials, insisting “we can film anywhere we want.”
“You can break the camera, you want to break it? You are threatening us by smashing the camera?” the reporter added as the row continued.
The footage has been viewed more than 3 million times online, and prompted an apology from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the local organizers of the showpiece.
“Tournament organizers are aware of an incident where a Danish broadcast crew were mistakenly interrupted during a live broadcast in one of Qatar’s tourist destinations,” a statement read.
“Upon inspection of the crew’s valid tournament accreditation and filming permit, an apology was made to the broadcaster by on-site security before the crew resumed their activity.
“Tournament organizers have since spoken to the journalist and issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament,” the statement added.
Last month, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said an “unprecedented campaign” was being waged against his country in a bid to undermine it ahead of the World Cup.
In particular, Qatari officials have rejected Western claims that migrant workers have been mistreated on a massive scale during the construction of infrastructure for the tournament.
They also insist that LGBT football fans will be welcome in Qatar, although they must remain conscious of local customs.
Of the 32 nations taking part at the tournament, Denmark has been among the most vocal in its criticism of the Gulf state.
The Danish team will wear special ‘toned down’ jerseys for their matches, in what kit maker Hummel described as “a protest against Qatar and its human rights record.”
