Famous American football journalist Grant Wall died while covering World football championship in Qatar. He was 48.
Wall reportedly passed out during coverage of the Argentina-Netherlands quarter-final. After paramedics performed CPR at the scene for several minutes, he was taken to the hospital.
Wall’s brother, Eric, announced his death on Instagram and made an emotional plea for help.
“I am gay. I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt at the World Cup,” Eric Wahl said. “My brother was healthy. He told me he had received death threats. I can’t believe my brother just died. I believe he’s been killed and I’m just asking for any help.”
Eric Wahl recalled an incident Grant Wahl faced two weeks ago when he tried to walk into the stadium wearing a rainbow pride jersey and was stopped by security.
“They demanded that I take off my shirt. I refused. Then, right after my tweet was taken down, they forcibly took my cell phone and held it for 30 minutes. I kept asking for it back. They did not give. me,” Wall told MSNBC late last month. “They had me stand in front of a surveillance camera, presumably with someone on the other end making some kind of judgment, and I told them it wasn’t good for them. After all, Cmdr. security came and let me I apologized FIFA apologized and you know I wondered what is it with the Qataris who are here outside the World Cups who are gay because I had to deal at the event , which was covered all over the world.”
Grant Wall speaks at a panel discussion at the 2014 Kicking + Screening New York Soccer Film Festival presented by Budweiser on April 8, 2014 in New York City.
(Michael Locsizano/Getty Images for Budweiser)
In his latest post in Substack’s Fútbol newsletter, Wall wrote a scathing piece about the Qatari officials in charge of the World Cup, telling his readers, “They just don’t care.”
“The Supreme Committee in charge of the World Cup in Qatar does not care that a Filipino migrant worker died at a training resort in Saudi Arabia during the group stage. He suffered a fatal blow to the head in a fall with a forklift (information being kept under wraps until The Athletic’s Adam Crafton breaks it), Wall wrote Thursday. “We know Qatar’s Supreme Committee doesn’t care because its CEO, Nasser Al Khater, told you all you needed to hear in an interview with the BBC that was breathtaking in its bluntness.”
Wall quoted Al Khater as telling the BBC: “We are in the middle of the FIFA World Cup and we have had a successful World Cup. And that’s what you want to talk about right now?… I mean, death is a natural part of life, whether it’s at work or in your dreams. Of course, the worker died. Our condolences to his family. However, it is surprising that this is what you wanted to focus on as the first question.’
Soccer player Jozy Altidore, left, and journalist Grant Wall attend the 2017 St. Luke’s Foundation Benefit for Haiti event hosted by Kenneth Cole at The Garage on January 10, 2017 in New York City.
(Mike Lowry/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Wall opened up about feeling unwell for a week, saying he had bronchitis.
“My body, I think, told me, even after the US came out, ‘Dude, you’re awake.’ It upset me,” Val said. “So this week I’ve had bronchitis, I’ve been to the medical clinic at the media center twice, including today. I’m feeling better today. I basically canceled everything I had this Thursday and took a nap, and in I’m doing a little better. You can probably tell by my voice that I’m not 100% here.”
American football released a statement saying “the entire US Soccer family is heartbroken.”
“Football fans and journalism of the highest quality know that we can always count on Grant to tell insightful and engaging stories about our game and its protagonists: the teams, players, coaches and many individuals who make football unlike any other sport “, – USA. Football said. “Grant made football his life’s work and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us.”
Football journalist Grant Wall and his wife, Dr Celine Gounder.
(Michael Locsizano/Getty Images for Budweise)
Wall began his journalism career at the Miami Herald as an intern and worked at Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2020. During his career, he also worked for FOX Sports and CBS Sports.
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He is survived by his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder.
“So grateful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl’s football family and so many friends who reached out tonight,” Gounder tweeted. – I am in complete shock.
