By Victor Kanayo
A known Journalist, Grant Wahl, died Friday night in Qatar while covering the ongoing 2022 World Cup.
State Department spokesman Ned Price who revealed this in a statement said, “We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Grant Wahl and send our condolences to his family, with whom we have been in close communication. We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible.”
Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, also said via Twitter, “I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl‘s soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight. I’m in complete shock.”
Gounder, an infectious diseases expert, served as an adviser to President Joe Biden on the Covid pandemic.
Multiple news organisations reported Wahl collapsed in the press tribune and was tended to by paramedics.
The cause of death was not immediately available.
US Soccer said in its statement that the team was “heartbroken” over Wahl’s death.
“Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game,” the organisation said.
In a post December 5 on his personal website, Wahl said he felt sick and that medical personnel on-site at the World Cup told him he probably had bronchitis. He said he was given antibiotics.
Wahl was initially denied entry to a stadium last month before a game between the U.S. and Wales. He said he was detained for 30 minutes for wearing a shirt that had a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow, though he was eventually let in.
The Qatari government has cracked down on LGBTQ news coverage recently as it prepared to host the 2022 World Cup.
The U.S. Soccer team posted on Twitter stating that “Grant’s belief in the power of the game to advance human rights was, and will remain, an inspiration to all.”
“The entire U.S. Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” the U.S. Soccer team said in the statement. “Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists; teams, players, coaches and the many personalities that make soccer unlike any sport.”
