US sportswriter Grant Wahl died at World Cup due to burst blood vessel, wife says | Football News

American sportswriter Grant Wahl died whereas protecting the World Cup in Qatar due to a burst blood vessel, his wife has stated.

Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated journalist who later moved to Substack, died whereas reporting the match between Argentina and the Netherlands.

US reporters sitting close to him stated he fell again in his seat throughout further time, in part of the stadium reserved for journalists.

They had referred to as for help and, whereas emergency providers responded shortly, they have been later advised that Wahl – believed to be 49 – had died.

Writing on Wahl’s blog on Wednesday, his wife Dr Celine Gounder stated: “An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office.

“Grant died from the rupture of a slowly rising, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest stress he skilled shortly earlier than his loss of life could have represented the preliminary signs.

“No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him. His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death.”

‘An amazing champion for the sport we love’

Sky Sports’ Martin Tyler on Sky Sports News:

“I was in the ground and afterwards I was told there had been an issue, probably about 10 rows further back from where I was broadcasting.

“I solely came upon this morning that it was Grant, who I knew, revered and had some dealings with as a result of he acquired everybody’s quantity in his contact ebook.

“He was such a great champion for the world game and the game that we love.

“It’s a large loss on that entrance, however it’s a large loss personally, and I ship all my condolences to his household and mates.

“I can’t really believe it’s happened to someone so young.”

Detained for carrying rainbow shirt

Wahl stated final month that he was briefly detained when he tried to enter a World Cup stadium in Qatar whereas carrying a rainbow shirt in help of the LGBTQ neighborhood.

Same-sex relations are unlawful in Qatar.

He stated on Twitter that he was detained for 25 minutes for carrying the shirt, with safety guards “forcibly” taking his telephone and demanding that he take away the shirt earlier than going into the stadium.

He stated he had refused.

Wahl additionally wrote on Monday that he had visited a hospital in Qatar, saying: “My body finally broke down on me – three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you.

“What had been a chilly during the last 10 days became one thing extra extreme on the night time of the USA-Netherlands sport, and I may really feel my higher chest tackle a brand new stage of stress and discomfort.

“I didn’t have COVID (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic at the main media centre today, and they said I probably have bronchitis.

“They gave me a course of antibiotics and a few heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit higher just some hours later. But nonetheless: No bueno.”

Tributes for Grant Wahl