- Chinese state TV edited out World Cup footage showing maskless attendees, $4.
- China has a strict zero-COVID policy, with harsh restrictions in place.
China's state television network has been editing out footage that shows World Cup attendees not wearing masks, amid the country's ongoing zero-COVID policy that has sparked rare mass protests.
$4 World Cup coverage on China Central Television (CCTV) and found that the state network showed less footage of stadium crowds than other TV stations around the world, and often replaced footage with scenes of the coaches or players on the bench.
Unlike many other countries, China has continued to pursue a strategy that aims to completely eliminate COVID-19, including strict entry requirements and shutting down cities with populations in their millions when just a few cases are discovered.
The policy has resulted in rare mass protests in the country. Protests have recently taken place$4 in the western city of Urumqi, and have now $4 to Beijing and Shanghai.
Ten people died in an apartment block fire in Urumqi on Friday. A resident $4 that people were largely prevented from leaving their homes in recent months, although state media has denied this.
Videos on Chinese social media show protesters chanting "End the COVID lockdown" and "We are human beings," $4
People travelling to the World Cup in Qatar are $4 to show a negative coronavirus test, and $4 individuals to wear masks when they are visiting healthcare facilities.
People in China have noted on social media that no one is wearing masks at the tournament, comparing it to China's strict rules, Bloomberg reported.