Colombia’s RCN TV station was barred from entering the airport and the Simon Bolivar park in Bogota on Sunday, after the arrival of the Colombian soccer team following their loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, reported local media.
According to national newspaper El Tiempo, there was an order from the Colombian Soccer Federation (FCF) to allow live reporting for the celebration by other communication mediums, but only Caracol could transmit the celebration live.
Rodrigo Pardo, director of RCN news, lamented the exclusion of his station from the celebration. “There were police and people from Caracol watching [our station], so that we wouldn’t turn on our cameras. When one of them did turn them on, they covered the camera,” said Pardo.
Both Caracol and RCN stations have been covering the World Cup, and both carried Colombia’s matches. Caracol, the officially exclusive channel of the Colombian team during qualifiers with Gol Caracol, filmed the entire celebration while RCN cameras were not allowed inside despite it being a public event in a public park.
The Colombian team was received with a massive celebration and praise for their recent success in the 2014 World Cup, in which they reached the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.
MORE: Colombia gives soccer squad overwhelming welcome in Bogota
Tens of thousands had found a place alongside the route from the airport to Bogota’s central Bolivar Park or escorted the players’ bus on motorcycles and bicycles. The Colombian players arrived on stage and greeted the people gathered with dances and praise for the crowd’s support of the players.
MORE: World falls for Colombia’s World Cup dance moves