A second journalist has died at the FIFA World Cup, with reports that Qatari photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed “suddenly” while covering the tournament.
Less than three days after the shock death of American journalist Grant Wahl, The Gulf Times reported Al-Misslam’s death.
“Al Kass TV photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed away recently. Al-Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” the network said in a brief statement on their website.
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“We believe in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for him, and send our deepest condolences to his family. We are all Allah’s and to Him we return.”
Not many other details are known about Al-Misslam, with the news of his death still making its way across the world, in contrast to the widespread concern that followed Wahl’s death.
In an episode of the podcast ‘Futbol with Grant Wahl’, published just days before his death on December 6, he had complained of feeling unwell.
“It had gotten pretty bad in terms of like the tightness in my chest, tightness, pressure. Feeling pretty hairy, bad.” Wahl told co-host Chris Wittyngham in the episode.
He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media centre, believing he had bronchitis.
He was given cough syrup and ibuprofen, and felt better shortly afterward, he said.
Wahl also said he experienced an “involuntary capitulation by my body and mind” after the US-Netherlands game on December 3.
“This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve done eight of these on the men’s side,” he said at the time.
Earlier on Friday, Wahl had tweeted about the Argentina-Netherlands quarter-final match.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the department was in “close communication” with Wahl’s family.
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