A second journalist has died suddenly at the Qatar World Cup – 48 hours after a US reporter who made headlines for wearing an LGBT T-shirt died from a ‘heart attack’.
Khalid al-Misslam, a Qatari photojournalist working for Al Kass TV, died on Sunday. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear at this stage.
Qatar news outlet Gulf Times tweeted: ‘Al-Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
‘We believe in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for him, and send our deepest condolences to his family.’
A second journalist, Khalid al-Misslam, has passed away during the Qatar World Cup
The circumstances around his death, which were reported by Qatari news outlet Gulf Times, are unclear at this stage
The news was confirmed by Al Kass TV, who only briefly mentioned his passing away in a live broadcast and appear to be waiting on further details.
It comes just 48 hours after the death of American journalist Grant Wahl, who had struggled to enter stadiums due to wearing a pro-LGBT top.
The prominent football journalist, 48, collapsed during extra time in the match between Argentina and the Netherlands in Doha on Friday night.
Paramedics performed CPR and used an automatic chest compressor to try and revive him for 20 minutes.
Wahl was rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance, where he was pronounced dead from what is reported to have been a heart attack.
Shortly after his passing, Wahl’s brother, Erik, who is gay, alleged his brother was murdered because of his constant criticisms of the Qatari regime.
It comes just 48 hours after the death of American journalist Grant Wahl, who had struggled to enter stadiums due to wearing a pro-LGBT top
In a video posted on Instagram, which has now been deleted, Eric Wahl said: ‘My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay.
‘I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy.
‘He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help.’
He added that his brother’s body will be repatriated to the United States on Monday and said that his family would not release a cause of death until an autopsy has been performed in the US.
Grant Wahl had just come back from taking some time off work after his body ‘broke down’ due to little sleep, high stress and lots of work.
He was covering his eighth world cup and had previously made headlines for being refused entry to a game for wearing a rainbow shirt.
Eric gave an update about his brother on Twitter on Sunday evening.
He wrote: ‘In NYC now. Can update that Grant did go to hospital in an ambulance. Colleagues followed in an Uber,’ he wrote. ‘There was no available AED onsite, though it sounds as though it wouldn’t have made a difference, if my understanding of the medical situation is correct. G comes home tomorrow.’
‘There will be a proper autopsy here in the US. The family will release a proper statement after that.’
Eric Wahl tweeted that his brother was being returned to the United States on Monday
The World Cup in Qatar has faced criticism for ‘sportswashing’ due to the host nation’s poor human rights record, in particular the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
In Qatar, male homosexuality is punishable by a prison sentence and same-sex marriages are not recognized by the government.
A Qatar organising committee spokesperson said Grant ‘received immediate emergency medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital’.
‘We offer our deepest condolences to Grant’s family, friends and his many close colleagues in the media,’ they added.
FIFA said that all efforts possible were made to save Grant’s life.
A spokesperson said: ‘In light of inaccurate reporting following the tragic events at Lusail Stadium during Netherlands against Argentina, FIFA would like to confirm that, in line with medical protocols, and as per the report from Hamad Medical Corporation’s Ambulance Service in Qatar, a defibrillator was available with the first responding paramedic team and applied to the patient as part of their response.
‘In addition, it was confirmed that the patient was transferred to hospital by an emergency ambulance.
‘Every effort was made by medical staff present to save his life. Our thoughts remain with the family of Grant Wahl.’
- An earlier version of this article repeated claims from Mr Wahl’s family that he had been taken to hospital in an Uber. They have since confirmed that while colleagues followed in a Uber, Mr Wahl went to hospital in an ambulance.