That’s the case when persistent Qatari officials interrupt a live TV broadcast after telling an Argentinian journalist to stop filming him interviewing a soccer fan in a wheelchair.
A tall man in Arabic dress and a headdress appeared out of nowhere and ordered Joaquin Alvarez to show him his press card before ordering the cameraman to turn his lens on an apartment building in the background.
Colleagues from the Buenos Aires studio said, “This is the government of Qatar,” and expressed concern about what had happened.
Persistent Qatari officials arrive to interrupt a live TV broadcast after telling an Argentinian journalist to stop filming while interviewing a soccer fan in a wheelchair
The TV reporter tries to reason with the unnamed officers after they interrupt his live broadcast
A Qatari official puts his hand into the camera of a reporter interrupting a live broadcast on Argentine television
The broadcast has to be stopped after officials insist that the Argentinian reporter and his crew are no longer allowed to film
The shocking incident, which came after a Danish film crew was threatened by security personnel during a broadcast in the capital Doha ahead of the World Cup, happened during live coverage of a popular program on Argentina’s El Trece channel called Nosotros a la manana.
Alvarez, who usually hosts the show, was joking with Argentine fans about their favorite TV channel and the show they liked the most when he was interrupted by the unidentified officer and two other men, who appeared seconds later.
He was forced to stop and show he was working seconds after a wheelchair-bound supporter he was kicking around with admitted he was “saddened” by the South American country’s shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the tournament’s opening match.
The live broadcast break took place at Barwa Village, a commercial and residential complex on the outskirts of Doha that was completed in 2010 and expanded for the World Cup.
The journalist and film crew later resumed filming from the back of a car, with Alvarez telling viewers he was forced to leave the area after being told his workplace was “private”.
He insisted that his papers were in order and that he had all the necessary permits. He said: “I was scared and thought they were going to catch me.
“The person who had stopped filming got out of a van and told us in a very rude way that we could no longer film because we were in a private location.
“I told him we were showing something nice, but they told us to leave and at one point they even wanted to take our equipment.”
A Qatari official appears to order an Argentinian TV crew to shut down as they interview a fan in a wheelchair
The team’s camera focuses on an empty street during the live broadcast, apparently after they were ordered to stop filming
Angry, he thanked well-wishers for their support in a social media post: “We had a bad experience and what happened was totally unfair because we all had our permits and everything was fine.
‘That’s in the past, another anecdote. The most important thing for me is that Argentina play again on Saturday.”
Nicolas Magali, who replaces Alvarez as host of the show while his colleague covers the World Cup, responded by saying: “This is an example of severe censorship and we have to say it.
“They covered the camera, we didn’t want to film, rudely ordered you to leave, and besides, the speaker didn’t identify himself.”
The journalist’s wife, Tefi Russo, later said of her husband on social media: “No joke, he was just shocked because he had all his paperwork in order, he’s not at home, he was busy with a live broadcast, he doesn’t . I can’t speak the language, it’s a different culture and it’s censorship if you know you’re not doing anything wrong.
“It is impossible to work and enjoy a World Cup like this.”
Qatari officials finally apologized after a similar incident less than two weeks ago involving the Danish film crew.
Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was interrupted during a live presentation on TV in Qatar
Security officials disagreed that he was filming and soon threatened to destroy his camera
A security guard tries to explain that despite his accreditation card he cannot film
TV2 reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was speaking on live broadcast as security personnel who appeared on a golf cart outside the newly opened Chedi Hotel in Katara Cultural Village were approached.
They told him not to film and threatened to break and destroy his camera.
Tantholdt replied: “You have invited the whole world here. Why can’t we film? It’s a public place.”
He added: “You can break the camera. Want to break it Keep going. You’re threatening us to break the camera.’
Earlier this month, an American journalist claimed he was ordered by security forces to remove a photo he took of a slogan on a wall at the World Cup media center in Qatar because it was “not allowed”.
And on November 21, an Argentine TV reporter was robbed live while covering the World Cup in Qatar, with a wallet and documents stolen from her purse.
Metzger (left) said she danced with locals during the show and only realized it when items were taken from her school bag
The report showed footage of the reporter dancing in the crowd and capturing the faces of some people near Metzger. She said Qatari officials could identify the suspect using facial recognition technology
TN journalist Dominique Metzger was broadcasting from the Corniche area of Doha before the first match of the tournament when she said the items were stolen.
Curiously, the reporter claimed the police asked her what punishment she wanted the alleged pickpocket to receive if caught, allegedly asking: “Do you want us to sentence him to five years in prison so he can be deported ?”
“I told them I just wanted my wallet back. I will not take the decision for the judicial system,” she told TN.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
