Qatar: death in Doha of Grant Wahl, famous American journalist who covered the 2022 World Cup
Journalist Grant Wahl (right) with American footballer Jozy Altidore, in New York, January 9, 2017 (illustration image).
AFP - MIKE LAWRIE
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
Grant Wahl, a well-known American sports journalist, who had been talked about recently after his detention in Qatar for wearing a rainbow T-shirt, died on Friday, December 9, in Doha, announced his wife and the United States Soccer Federation.
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Grant Wahl, 48, who had worked for the famous magazine
Sports Illustrated
as a football specialist before joining CBS Sports in 2021, died while covering the quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands.
According to American radio NPR, he collapsed in the press box as the match drew to a close.
Medical personnel practiced first aid before carrying her away on a stretcher.
According to the American daily
The Wall Street Journal
, Wahl apparently succumbed to a heart attack.
“
I am completely in shock
”
The journalist was married to Doctor Celine Gounder, a renowned infectious disease specialist who appeared on television several times during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“
I am completely in shock
,” she tweeted.
For his part, State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted shortly afterwards: "
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Grant Wahl
", adding that the American authorities were "
in close communication
" with his family.
"
We are in contact with senior Qatari officials to ensure that his family's wishes are granted as quickly as possible
," Mr Price added.
Mr Wahl had told subscribers to his internet newsletter a few days ago that he had visited a clinic in the media center in Qatar "
and they said I probably had bronchitis
".
“
My body finally gave up on me.
Three weeks with little sleep, lots of stress and work can have that effect on you
[...]
I could feel my upper chest bearing a new level of pressure and discomfort
,” he described.
He also said that taking antibiotics and “
a powerful cough syrup
” had “
made him feel a little better after a few hours.
But it's always
:
No bueno”.
"
We are devastated
"
"
Grant had made football his life's work and we are devastated that he and his brilliant pen are no longer with us
," the Federation wrote in a statement, noting that "
the entire football family in the United States
( was)
heartbroken
" by his passing.
Wahl had been held up on November 21 by security personnel in Qatar because, he explained on Twitter, he wore a rainbow T-shirt to the game between the United States and Wales, to support LGBT+ rights.
Same-sex relations are criminalized in Qatar.
In 1996, he joined the editorial staff of
Sports Illustrated
- at the time the number one sports publication in the United States - to write about football.
He stayed there until 2020 and started working at CBS Sports the following year.
The announcement of his death sparked many reactions around the world.
"
Fans of the highest quality football and journalism knew Grant could be counted on to deliver insightful and thrilling stories about the sport and its greatest protagonists: teams, players, coaches and all those people who make football a sport apart
,” noted
US Soccer
.
In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent the "
sincere condolences
" of the governing body of world football and the "
football community
" to his wife, family and friends.
(
With
AFP)
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