American soccer author Grant Wahl was honored with a tribute from FIFA on the desk the place he was resulting from work Saturday on the World Cup quarterfinal match between France and England.
A posy of white lilies and a framed {photograph} of Wahl taken in Qatar was left on the media seat that had been assigned to the 48-year-old journalist who died early Saturday.
“Tonight we pay tribute to Grant Wahl at his assigned seat in Al Bayt Stadium. He ought to have been right here,” FIFA stated in a press release. “Our ideas stay together with his spouse Céline, his household, and his buddies at this most tough time.”
About 20 minutes earlier than the match began, the {photograph} of Wahl was displayed on huge screens in two corners of the stadium. An announcement about his dying was made to followers who applauded him.
Wahl fell in poor health whereas working throughout additional time of the Argentina-Netherlands sport Friday at Lusail Stadium. He was handled by medical employees within the media tribune and later taken by ambulance to the hospital.
He was reporting at his eighth World Cup. He had written earlier within the week on his web site about visiting a medical clinic in Qatar after feeling in poor health earlier than saying Thursday on his podcast that he had bronchitis.
Wahl drew worldwide consideration after saying he was briefly stopped from attending the U.S. match towards Wales on Nov. 21 for sporting a rainbow-colored T-shirt in assist of those that establish as LGBTQIA+, as their rights are criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
