With the FIFA World Cup 2022 set to kick off in Qatar in a few days, the hosts have faced a lot of negative publicity because of the work culture and strict rules in the Arab nation. On November 20, ahead of the tournament's big opener, a new controversy emerged after a Danish reporter's live TV broadcast was interrupted by Qatar officials.
A security entourage of a couple of Qatar officials approached Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt on a golf buggy, close to the Chedi Hotel at Katara Cultural Village. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Tantholdt's live recording was hampered when the security officials decided to interrupt the broadcast. The journalist displayed his accreditation and accused the Qatari officials of wanting to break the camera set.
In the clip, the reporter can be heard saying, "You invited the whole world here. Why can't we film?".
See the video here:
The journalists, who were from the TV2 channel, were 'mistakenly interrupted', with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy acknowledged in a statement. "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," organizers said.
Reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was speaking live to a news anchor in Denmark when three men drove up behind him on an electric cart and tried to block the camera lens. Qatari organizers said they later spoke to Tantholdt and also 'issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament.'
Focus on Danish protests
Denmark's soccer federation has also been one of the biggest critics of Qatar among the 32 World Cup teams over the emirate's record on human rights and treatment of low-paid migrant workers. They were needed to build massive construction projects since FIFA picked Qatar as the host in 2010.
Danish players will wear game jerseys that have a toned-down badge and manufacturers' logo as a protest in support of labour rights when they play France, Australia and Tunisia in Group D.
A third-choice black jersey option has been included as ‘the colour of mourning,’ for construction workers who have died in Qatar.
(With PTI inputs)
