Grant carrierProminent American football journalist passed away Queue while covering fifa world cup Last week, his family said Wednesday, he suffered an “aortic aneurysm.”
Wahl, 49, was working his eighth world Cup when he collapsed in the media booth during the quarter-final match between Argentina and the Netherlands on 9 December.
Medical personnel were unable to revive him.
Renowned sports writer Grant Wahl dies while covering World Cup in Qatar
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Celine Gounder, an American physician and Wahl’s wife, posted on their website on Wednesday Wahl’s sudden death punctuated social media speculation about the cause of her death, including conspiracy theories that it was linked to the COVID-19 vaccination.
“Grant died of rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before death may represent early symptoms,” wrote Gounder. “
“No amount of CPR or shocks could have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was not related to vaccination status. There was nothing bad about his death.
Wahl’s body and his possessions were repatriated from Qatar to the United States on Monday. Gounder said an autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday that the US had no reason to believe Wahal’s death was suspicious and praised Qatari authorities for cooperating fully with the US embassy in arranging the repatriation.
Prior to his death, Wahl had complained of respiratory problems and had been treated for a possible case of bronchitis. He wrote for Sports Illustrated for more than two decades and then started his own website. It was America’s leading voice of football information during a time of increased interest after the US hosted the 1994 World Cup.
He also took a critical look at the international organizing bodies of the game.
In late November during the Qatar tournament, Wahl said she was briefly stopped at a World Cup stadium security screening point when she tried to enter wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ2 community. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar.
A tribute to journalist Grant Wahl is shown on screen before the World Cup quarter-final football match between England and France at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on December 10.
HASSAN AMMAR/AP
Wahl said he was detained for 25 minutes, then a security commander let him go. Wahl said FIFA has apologized to him.
Gounder expressed his gratitude on his website Wednesday for the support shown to Wahl’s family following his death.
“While the world knew Grant as a great journalist, we knew him as a man who approached the world with openness and love. Grant was an incredibly empathetic, devoted and loving husband, Brother, uncle and son who was our biggest companion and fan,” she wrote.
“We will always cherish his gift of life; Sharing his company was our greatest love and source of joy. Curated friends from all cultures and walks of life, to whom he was a generous listener, an enthusiast, a champion of others.
– With files from The Associated Press and Reuters
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