Beyond the qualification of Argentina for the semi-finals after an unbreathable penalty shootout, this new evening of football in Qatar was bereaved by the death of a journalist during the meeting. Grant Wahl, the American journalist who commented Friday evening on the quarter-final of the World Cup between the Netherlands and the teammates of Lionel Messi died shortly before the end of the meeting. He collapsed in the press box. Supported by the medical staff present on the spot, he died of a heart attack, as reported by the American daily “The Wall Street Journal”.
Just a few days ago, the 40-year-old told readers of his newsletter “Fútbol with Grant Wahl” that he did not feel in very good shape. “My body finally let me down“, he had written on December 6th. Three weeks with little sleep, lots of stress and work can have this effect on you. […] I could feel my upper chest supporting a new level of pressure and discomfort.” he had indicated while admitting that the doctors had diagnosed him with probable bronchitis.
But his face had especially been made famous on social networks at the start of this very controversial world. Indeed, Grant Wahl had publicly shown his support for LGBT + rights. To protest against certain severely repressed or stifled individual freedoms in Qatar, the journalist wore a rainbow T-shirt during the United States / Wales match. This had earned him some trouble with the local authorities. His brother also evokes the hypothesis of a criminal act, affirming that Grant Wahl had been threatened because of his militant act. For its part, the American Football Federation paid tribute to the deceased in a press release: “Grant’s belief in the power of play to advance human rights has been and will remain an inspiration to all.“.
CT
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