'This is what Qatar is like!': World Cup officials interrupt ANOTHER live broadcast, threaten to confiscate equipment and order TV crew to leave as they interview a fan in a wheelchair
- Officials interrupt live broadcast as reporter chats with fan, forcing crew to leave
- 'It's censorship when you know you're doing nothing wrong,' reporter's wife says
- Latest move by Qatari officials who are appearing to censor journalists' work
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
This is the moment heavy-handed Qatari officials interrupted a live TV broadcast.
They told an Argentinian journalist to stop filming as he interviewed a football fan in a wheelchair.
A tall man in Arabic robes and headdress ordered Joaquin Alvarez to show him his Press pass before instructing the cameraman to point his lens away.
Colleagues from the studio back in Buenos Aires said 'this is what the Qatar government is like' as they expressed concern at what was happening live in Doha.
![Qatari officials interrupting a live TV broadcast after telling an Argentinian journalist to stop filming as he interviews a football fan in a wheelchair](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927765-11468393-Heavy_handed_Qatari_officials_arrive_to_interrupt_a_live_TV_broa-m-33_1669368523051.jpg)
Qatari officials interrupting a live TV broadcast after telling an Argentinian journalist to stop filming as he interviews a football fan in a wheelchair
![The TV reporter tries to reason with the unnamed officials after they interrupt his broadcast](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927757-11468393-The_TV_reporter_tries_to_reason_with_the_unnamed_officials_after-m-35_1669368566853.jpg)
The TV reporter tries to reason with the unnamed officials after they interrupt his broadcast
![An official holds up his hand toward a reporter's camera after interrupting a live show on Argentinian TV](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927767-11468393-A_Qatari_official_holds_up_his_hand_toward_a_reporter_s_camera_a-m-36_1669368575101.jpg)
An official holds up his hand toward a reporter's camera after interrupting a live show on Argentinian TV
![The broadcast is forced to end after the officials insist the Argentinian reporter and his crew can't film any more](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927753-11468393-The_broadcast_is_forced_to_end_after_the_officials_insist_the_Ar-m-37_1669368593151.jpg)
The broadcast is forced to end after the officials insist the Argentinian reporter and his crew can't film any more
The incident, which comes after a Danish film crew were threatened by security staff on air as they broadcast in the capital ahead of the World Cup, took place during a live report for Nosotros a la Mañana, a popular show on Argentina's El Trece channel.
Alvarez, who normally hosts the programme in a studio in his home country, was joking with Argentine fans about their favourite TV channel when he was interrupted by the unidentified official and two other men who appeared seconds later.
He was forced to stop and prove he was working seconds after a wheelchair-bound supporter he was fooling around with admitted he was 'sad' about the South American nation's shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their first match of the tournament.
The interruption to the live broadcast took place in Barwa Village, a commercial and residential complex on the outskirts of Doha that was completed in 2010 and has been expanded for the World Cup.
The journalist and crew resumed filming later from the back of a car, with Alvarez telling viewers he had been forced to leave the area after being told where he was working was 'private'.
Insisting his paperwork was in order and he had all the necessary permits, he said: 'I was frightened and thought they were going to take me prisoner.
'The person who stopped the filming got out of a van and told us in a very rude way we couldn't film any more because we were in a private place.
'I told him we were showing something nice but they told us we had to go and there was a moment when they even wanted to take our equipment off us.'
![A Qatari official appears to order an Argentinian TV crew to stop broadcasting as they interview a fan in a wheelchair](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927751-11468393-A_Qatari_official_appears_to_order_an_Argentinian_TV_crew_to_sto-m-38_1669368609597.jpg)
A Qatari official appears to order an Argentinian TV crew to stop broadcasting as they interview a fan in a wheelchair
![The crew's camera focuses on an empty street during the live broadcast, seemingly after being ordered to stop filming](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/09/64927763-11468393-The_crew_s_camera_focuses_on_an_empty_street_during_the_live_bro-m-39_1669368625345.jpg)
The crew's camera focuses on an empty street during the live broadcast, seemingly after being ordered to stop filming
He went on to thank well-wishers for their support in a social media post. He wrote: 'We had a bad experience and what happened was totally unfair because we had all our permits and everything in order.
'It's in the past now, another anecdote. The most important thing for me is that Argentina is playing again on Saturday.'
Nicolas Magaldi, who is replacing Alvarez as programme host while his colleague covers the World Cup, responded by saying: 'This is an example of severe censorship.
'They covered up the camera, didn't let us film, ordered you away in a rude fashion and on top of that the person doing the talking didn't identify himself.'
The journalist's wife Tefi Russo later took to social media to say of her husband: 'No joke, he sh*t himself simply because although he had all his paperwork in order, he's away from home, he was doing a live broadcast, he doesn't speak the language, it's another culture and it's censorship when you know you're doing nothing wrong.
'It's impossible to work and enjoy a World Cup like this.'
Qatari officials ended up apologising after a similar incident less than a fortnight ago involving the Danish film crew.
![Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was interrupted while presenting live on TV in Qatar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/01/64589871-11432775-image-a-48_1668560976783.jpg)
Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was interrupted while presenting live on TV in Qatar
![Security officials took issue with him filming and soon threatened to destroy his camera](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/01/64589891-11432775-image-a-47_1668560971136.jpg)
Security officials took issue with him filming and soon threatened to destroy his camera
![A security guard tries to explain that he is unable to film, despite his accreditation pass](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/16/01/64589883-11432775-image-a-46_1668560964682.jpg)
A security guard tries to explain that he is unable to film, despite his accreditation pass
TV2 reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was speaking as part of a live broadcast when he was approached by security staff who had appeared on a golf buggy next to the newly opened Chedi Hotel at Katara Cultural Village.
They told him that he was not welcome to film and threatened to smash and destroy his camera.
Tantholdt replied: 'You have invited the whole world here. Why can't we film? It is a public place.'
He then added: 'You can break the camera. You want to break it? Go ahead. You're threatening us by breaking the camera.'
The shutdown by authorities is the latest amid a series of clampdowns in Qatar that has also seen the banning of beer, as well as the enforcement of dress code rules.
England fans dressed as Crusaders were turned away from World Cup matches in Qatar as their costumes are 'offensive to Muslims'.
Two fancy-dress knights were seen on social media trying to get through security before England's match with Iran on Monday. They were wearing chainmail and helmets bearing St George's Cross.
![England fans dressed as Crusaders with chainmail, shields and swords are stopped by security outside a stadium in Qatar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/10/64922701-11468393-England_fans_dressed_as_Crusaders_with_chainmail_shields_and_swo-a-9_1669371575072.jpg)
England fans dressed as Crusaders with chainmail, shields and swords are stopped by security outside a stadium in Qatar
![An England fan dressed as a Crusader kneels at a security check at the World Cup in Qatar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/10/64922699-11468393-An_England_fan_dressed_as_a_Crusader_kneels_at_a_security_check_-a-8_1669371567642.jpg)
An England fan dressed as a Crusader kneels at a security check at the World Cup in Qatar
It is claimed that the pair, who were also carrying novelty swords, were escorted away by four officers at the security gate before kick-off.
Some Doha residents appear to have been upset by the choice of outfit, given the religious wars between 1095 and 1291 were about taking land and holy sites under Islamic control.
Crusaders and supporters in St George outfits have become a familiar sight at overseas England matches over the years - but the fancy dress will be far more controversial at the first World Cup held in a Muslim nation.
Footage from Qatar before and after the England game earlier this week showed the group singing God Save the King and storming up the stairs on public transport. Some locals appeared shocked by their choice of outfits, while others asked them to pose for selfies.
At one point the group, carrying foam swords and wearing chainmail and Knights Templar robes marked with the cross of St George, were spoken to by security outside the Khalifa International Stadium. Some claimed on social media they were even turned away or detained - but this was not clear from the footage.
Football fans in Qatar wearing traditional Arabic robes and headdress have also been asked to remove them when entering bars serving alcohol, over fears that it offends locals and insults Islam.
Security staff at a number of Doha's bars have told fans that they cannot enter wearing traditional Islamic clothing to have a beer following complaints from Qataris that it is offensive to their faith.
![Croatia fans wear the traditional Arabic dress in the colours of their football team while celebrating in Doha, Qatar](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/24/16/64908381-11466343-image-a-28_1669307087813.jpg)
Croatia fans wear the traditional Arabic dress in the colours of their football team while celebrating in Doha, Qatar
The availability of alcohol is severely restricted in the Muslim country but it is served in bars located in four or five-star hotels which have attracted a large number of football fans.
Qatar's conservative regime has also been clamping down on pro-LGBT football fans with rainbow bucket hats, T-shirts and flags.
On Monday night, former Wales captain Laura McAllister was among female football fans who were 'told to take off their rainbow bucket hats' at the Qatari stadium ahead of the Dragons' first match.
Men, however, were allowed to keep them on.
![Former Wales captain Laura McAllister was among female football fans who were 'told to take off their rainbow bucket hats' at the Qatari stadium ahead of the Dragons' first match against the US](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/22/16/64798225-11457769-Former_Wales_captain_Laura_McAllister_was_among_female_football_-a-226_1669133286767.jpg)
Former Wales captain Laura McAllister was among female football fans who were 'told to take off their rainbow bucket hats' at the Qatari stadium ahead of the Dragons' first match against the US
![US sports journalist Grant Wahl (pictured) was initially refused entry to a World Cup match in Doha, Qatar and had security guards 'aggressively demand' he remove his rainbow shirt for 'his own safety'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/11/64802841-11468393-US_sports_journalist_Grant_Wahl_pictured_was_initially_refused_e-a-7_1669374151965.jpg)
US sports journalist Grant Wahl (pictured) was initially refused entry to a World Cup match in Doha, Qatar and had security guards 'aggressively demand' he remove his rainbow shirt for 'his own safety'
Meanwhile, US football reporter Grant Wahl was also stopped by security at the same match and ordered to take off his rainbow T-shirt.
He refused and the Qatari officials questioned him before they eventually backed down.
One security guard told him that they were protecting him from fans inside who might have attacked him for wearing the shirt.
FIFA has made it clear that rainbows on clothing and flags is not prohibited in stadiums - but have acted to prevent protests on the pitch.
Organisers of the Qatar World Cup and Qatari cultural groups have also urged visitors to respect their customs and religious rules.
These include no drinking or swearing in public, wearing modest clothes and no public displays of affection. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar under Islamic Sharia law and LGBTQ people also face discrimination and violence.
England and other teams planning to wear 'OneLove' armbands to make a statement against discrimination against LGBTQ people during the World Cup were faced with 'extreme blackmail' of 'massive sanctions' unless they didn't wear them, the German Football Association (DFB) claimed.
The federations of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark said on Monday they had been put under pressure by FIFA, which had threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-coloured armband.
The DFB's media director Steffen Simon told German Deutschlandfunk radio that England, who had been the first team to be expected to wear it on Monday in their game against Iran, had been threatened with multiple sporting sanctions to prevent them from making the gesture in support of LGBTQ rights.
'The tournament director went to the English team and talked about multiple rule violations and threatened with massive sporting sanctions without specifying what these would be,' Simon said.
England captain Harry Kane had planned to wear the armband on the pitch but chose not to at the last minute, with critics calling his decision 'spineless'.
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
In another TV mishap on Monday, a female Argentinian television reporter was robbed live on air while reporting in Qatar on the World Cup, with a wallet and documents stolen from her handbag.
![Dominique Metzger said she was dancing with locals while she was on-air, and only realised after that items had been taken from her satchel bag](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/11/64768395-11468393-image-m-4_1669374107413.jpg)
Dominique Metzger said she was dancing with locals while she was on-air, and only realised after that items had been taken from her satchel bag
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/25/11/64768407-11468393-image-m-5_1669374125793.jpg)
The report showed footage from when the reporter was dancing in the crowd, and captured the faces of some people close to Metzger. She said Qatari officials would be able to identify the suspect using facial recognition technology
TN journalist Dominique Metzger was broadcasting from the Corniche area of Doha in the build-up to the first match of the tournament when she says the items were stolen.
Bizarrely, the reporter claimed police asked her afterwards what kind of punishment she wanted the alleged pickpocket to have if they were caught, allegedly asking: 'Do you want us to sentence him to five years in prison, to be deported?'
'I told them I just want my wallet back. I won't be making the decision for the justice system,' she told TN.
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