US football journalist Grant Wall dies while covering Qatar World Cup | World Cup 2022

US football journalist Grant Wall has died of a heart attack while covering at Lusail Stadium. World Cup Quarterfinals between Argentina and Holland on Friday night.

Wahl, a correspondent for CBS Sports and author of the popular Substack column, was 49 years old.

“National football is heartbroken to learn of the loss of Grant Wall,” the United States Soccer Federation said. said in a statement“Here in the United States, Grant’s passion for football and his commitment to raising its profile across the sporting world has played a huge role in building interest and respect for our beautiful game.” Best of all, Grant’s belief in the power of games to advance human rights continues to inspire everyone.”

Wall was sitting in the press box at the top of the venue when he went down in overtime. Journalists around him were urged to remove the chair and seek medical help.

A medical team arrived and began administering CPR for the next 20 minutes. After the match ended, Wall was removed from the scene.

Wall’s wife, Dr. Celine Gownder, an infectious disease epidemiologist and former member of Joe Biden’s coronavirus task force, confirmed her husband’s death on Twitter.

“I am so grateful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl’s football family and the many friends who reached out tonight. I am completely shocked,” she wrote.

Wall made headlines early in the tournament when he was detained by security at Qatar’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium during the United States’ World Cup opener against Wales for wearing a rainbow shirt. He said he wore the shirt to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

His brother, Eric, said Grant had recently received death threats and believed he had contracted bronchitis.

Wall was perhaps the most famous football journalist in the United States. Other writers and journalists paid tribute to him.

“Grant Wall was a friend of mine and one of the nicest and most decent people I’ve ever had the chance to work with. I’m flat out,” Deadspin said. Founding Editor Will Leitch tweeted:



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/09/grant-wahl-dies-qatar-world-cup-2022-heart-attack-soccer-journalist US football journalist Grant Wall dies while covering Qatar World Cup | World Cup 2022

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