US soccer writer Grant Wahl died just once day after he revealed he had visited the medical clinic at the World Cup where he was simply told he was probably fighting bronchitis. Just days later, Qatari photographer Khalid al-Misslam, a photojournalist for local sports outlet Al Kas TV died on Saturday.
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The circumstances of al-Misslam’s death were unclear but the announcement was made on the same day that a security guard was seriously injured when he fell at Lusail Iconic Stadium, the Guardian reported.
Wahl, 49, died after collapsing at the Lusail Stadium while covering the same game as the guard, reported the Guardian. Witnesses said he fell back in his seat, received emergency medical treatment on-site and was taken to a hospital.
Wahl’s brother, Eric, said he believed Grant was killed after being outspoken against the Qatari government. “Grant was initially not allowed into the stadium because he had worn a shirt with a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow in support of the LGBTQ+ community before the US played Wales.”
The New York Post reports that on Wahl’s Substack, the prominent soccer journalist had also been critical of Qatar. One post condemned organizers for the deaths of hundreds of workers who were building the tournament stadium.
“They just don’t care. Qatari World Cup organizers don’t even hide their apathy over migrant worker deaths, including the most recent one,” he wrote.
The guard who fell to his death is reportedly a migrant worker. The man fell about 2 a.m. local time Saturday after the quarter-final game between Argentina and the Netherlands.
