Journalist at World Cup threatened in the middle of live TV report by Qatari officials
A Danish journalist has quickly become an unlikely viral star ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after local officials threatened to break his camera while he was in the middle of a news report.
The video shows reporter Rasmus Tantholdt being stopped in the middle of a live news broadcast by a Qatari security staff who approached in a golf cart and then tried to stop the broadcast, even putting hands on the TV camera.
"You've invited the whole world here. Why can't we film? This is a public place," Tantholdt can be heard arguing in English.
The officials continued to threaten the TV crew even after those involved showed their media credentials, to which Tandtholdt replied: "You want to break it? Go ahead. You're threatening us by breaking the camera."
The incident follows nearly a month of pushback from news organizations across the globe as Qatar has tried to place heavy restrictions and "vaguely-worded bureaucratic obstacles" on journalists covering the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
According to a report from the Guardian, restrictions have been placed on where outlets can film but not on whom the film subject is. Filming at accommodation sites, "government buildings, universities, places of worship and hospitals," as well as residential properties and private businesses are all prohibited.
Tandtholdt later posted to social media that the Qatar Supreme Committee and Qatar International Media Office issued the TV crew an apology — while also pointing out that the incident could happen to another outlet before the tournament is over.
The World Cup in Qatar is scheduled to run Nov. 20 through Dec. 18.
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