Security threatens to smash TV reporter’s camera live on air as he reports from Qatar during World Cup-Mel Evans-Entertainment – Metro

Qatari officials have apologised to a Danish journalist after security guards threatened to smash his camera as he reported live on air for the World Cup.

Rasmus Tantholdt, International Correspondent TV2 Denmark, was accosted by several men, one of whom apparently threatened to smash his equipment, as he broadcast from the nation just days ahead of the cup’s kick off.

The eyes of the world will be on one small corner of the Middle East when the FIFA World Cup starts in Qatar this Sunday, but it’s not been without its controversies.

Despite the excitement, after Gareth Southgate recently revealed the England team, there have been growing concerns about the nation’s strict laws and criminalisation of homosexuality, with David Beckham copping intense criticism (such as from Joe Lycett and John Whaite) for his reported £10million deal with an advert promoting Qatar tourism ahead of the major sporting event.

Reporting as football fans and players stream in, Tantholdt found himself in hot water with security guards.

Understood to be filming in the Katara area of Qatar, Tantholdt was speaking during a live broadcast when he was approached by several staff that had appeared on a golf buggy.

Rasmus Tantholdt was reporting from Qatar (Picture: TV2)

Security rushed in to interrupt the segment (Picture: Twitter / Rasmus Tantholdt TV2

Switching to English to ask for further clarity on what the security – who are understood to be from a private company and not Qatari officials – found issue with, Tantholdt is heard saying: ‘You have invited the whole world here. Why can’t we film? It is a public place.’

He then showed security his press accreditation and insisted they had a right to film there, however as he did a man was seen grabbing his camera, before it was suggested security threatened to destroy their gear.

Tantholdt said: ‘You can break the camera. You want to break it? Go ahead. You’re threatening us by breaking the camera.’

The journalist presented his accreditation (Picture: TV2)

The reporter later shared the clip to Twitter, revealing he received an apology: ‘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? #FIFAWorldCupQatar2022. [sic]’

In a statement to Metro.co.uk, a Supreme Committee spokesperson said: ‘Tournament organisers are aware of an incident where a Danish broadcast crew were mistakenly interrupted during a live broadcast in one of Qatar’s tourist destinations.

David Beckham has received intense backlash after appearing in an advert (Picture: FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

‘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 organisers have since spoken to the journalist and issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament.’

Following the incident, Tantholdt spoke to Norwegian outlet NRK, and said that despite receiving an apology, the fact he was stopped raised concerns and he shared his belief Qatar was ‘not a free and democratic country’.

He was quoted as saying: ‘I don’t think the message from the top in Qatar has reached all the security guards.

‘Therefore, one can argue that there are some who have misunderstood the situation, but at the same time it tells a lot about what it is like in Qatar. There it is that you can be attacked and threatened when you report as a free media.’

‘This is not a free and democratic country. My experience after visiting 110 countries in the world is: The more you have to hide, the more difficult it is to report from there.’

The World Cup typically transforms host countries into a non-stop party amid the excitement, but this year may be different.

The tiny, conservative Muslim nation may show little tolerance for the booze-fuelled hooliganism that has unfolded at previous tournaments.

Qatar has sought to portray itself as welcoming to foreigners but traditional Muslim values remain strong and the country’s judicial system, based on an interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, has drawn Western criticism for its tendency to favour prosecutors and police.

Authorities say it will loosen up some strict rules for the unprecedented influx of tourists but fans attending the World Cup should be mindful of Qatar’s laws and cultural customs, including policies for alcohol, drugs, sexuality and dress code.

MORE : LGBTQ+ fans on why they’re boycotting Qatar World Cup: ‘It’s a slap in the face’

MORE : Peter Crouch and Paul Potts team up for World Cup album to raise money to fight LGBT oppression in Qatar

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