Journalist Grant Wahl has passed away in Qatar

[moses]

Sad news. It doesn’t seem like foul play to me. But everyone loves a conspiracy

Have you done much investigating? The truth is we don't have a clue but there's nothing to base any suspicion on except pre judging the regime. Which itself has context.

 

[Pexbo]

As someone said, if Qatar started targeting journalists who have covered the migrant workers issues and showed LGBT support the body count would be a lot higher.

Didn't he say himself he was suffering from bronchitis and was still being made to work day and night? He was feeling discomfort during the Netherlands USA game.

If he went to work in Qatar and an American media organisation overworked him when ill to the point of exhaustion and death… I mean there are parallels to what he has investigated.

 

[moses]

Qatar are smart enough to not murder a foreign national, while the eyes of the world are upon them, and it’s not that uncommon for people who are under stress to have heart attacks like this.

Should be investigated, but I would expect natural causes. Wouldn’t make it any less tragic, of course.

Ah I think his family would endure less stress in the future if it was natural, which is most likely.

 

[moses]

If he went to work in Qatar and an American media organisation overworked him when ill to the point of exhaustion and death… I mean there are parallels to what he has investigated.

Aye, he hasn't been printing anything that we can't read elsewhere has he?

 

[Gycraig]

Tbh I would blame his company more, if he’s that ill why wouldn’t you send someone else out to cover for him ? Working night and day with bronchitis is mental.

As said above it’s actually quite ironic given what he was covering

 

[jadajos]

Seriously. Reeks of casual racism. I doubt whether this would even be discussed like this if it were hosted in Europe.

Even if they hated him, I doubt Qatar are stupid enough to kill a prominent US citizen during a world cup they are hosting.

My first thoughts go out to Grants family. Incredibly sad news. Personally, I think it’s never a good thing to start theorizing online after a sudden death without knowing the facts. I am critical of the Qatar World Cup but I will look at this as a very tragic loss unless serious evidence were to emerge regarding unnatural causes of death.

However, I absolutely disagree on the racism part. Do you really think there would be conspiracy theories floating around if this were to happen in, say, Ghana or Singapore? I have relatives in Sengal and Indonesia, and both countries are predominantly Muslim. I doubt people would be as suspicious towards those countries. Indonesia maybe more so after the recent new legislation.

The reason is not the skin color or religion, it’s the non-democratic regime oppressing minorities combined with a history of intimidating or even murdering journalists in the gulf states. Do you really not see a difference there?

 

[Sultan]

There are lots of journalists covering stories like he was who haven’t died. It seems premature and unnecessary to fall in behind the words of a grieving family member to assume foul play. Particularly when you hear suggestions he had been unwell.

Wise words.

I am shocked at the posters queuing up to blame the Qataris without much evidence. Plenty of legitimate finger-pointing can be done without resorting to wild and childish accusations.

 

[The Corinthian]

RIP - sad and so young.

@Raoul I’m surprised you believe there’s foul play when he himself has blogged his own illness since he’s been there and his trips to the hospital. Is there any actual evidence that there’s something more going on?

Feel for his wife and family.

 

[Sultan]

Could somebody please tell me if Grant suffered any blows in particularly to the head when he was arrested and temporarily detained?

If there is a strange element to this, it is plausible it happened during his detention for the crime of wearing a T shirt representing views that the Quatari authorities vehemently oppose. It`s unbelievable Grant is gone but please tell me if anything happened to him in detention.

Did you seriously think this through prior to posting? Would he have stayed silent had he been manhandled?

 

[DixieDean]

Rip Grant. Very sad.

 

[hellhunter]

Overworking perhaps? Covering so many matches? Him being ill and probably the heat doesnt help.

Our last 2019 general elections cost a 894 death due to overexhaustion of having to meet the dealine.

That is a ridiculous statistic and surely food for thought for the entire industry

 

[Sultan]

Tbh I would blame his company more, if he’s that ill why wouldn’t you send someone else out to cover for him ? Working night and day with bronchitis is mental.

As said above it’s actually quite ironic given what he was covering

Good point.

It's just a good story for those needing their daily dose of accusing the other.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Definitely shocking to read, but I think we should be a bit cautious jumping to conclusions.

Reading he was feeling unwell for a week or so hopefully means there is no foul play. He doesn't seem the type that would be easily silenced, so if he did recieve poor treatment he would have made everybody aware of that.

Horrible to watch that video of his brother. No doubt they were all worried for him even going there, now the worst case has happened. No wonder their heads are spinning.

RIP to a brave, righteous person.

 

[Irrational.]

That's horribly sad. It's not uncommon for seemingly healthy people to have massive heart attacks out of the blue so I think it's early to throw blame at the Qatari WC.

Yep, and it was well documented that he was ill before he passed.

Doesn’t stop the tinfoil hat brigade adding two and two, and coming up with five.

 

[Sky1981]

My first thoughts go out to Grants family. Incredibly sad news. Personally, I think it’s never a good thing to start theorizing online after a sudden death without knowing the facts. I am critical of the Qatar World Cup but I will look at this as a very tragic loss unless serious evidence were to emerge regarding unnatural causes of death.

However, I absolutely disagree on the racism part. Do you really think there would be conspiracy theories floating around if this were to happen in, say, Ghana or Singapore? I have relatives in Sengal and Indonesia, and both countries are predominantly Muslim. I doubt people would be as suspicious towards those countries. Indonesia maybe more so after the recent new legislation.

The reason is not the skin color or religion, it’s the non-democratic regime oppressing minorities combined with a history of intimidating or even murdering journalists in the gulf states. Do you really not see a difference there?

Nobody, I mean Nobody kills an American Journalist for fun, it's bad business and a stupid business. I don't even think Russian / Cuba / North Korea even does this for shits and giggle, let alone Qatar who has no military of any sort or anything to gain pissing off the big boys.

Most countries would think 10x before messing around with a US nationality passport, they'd go off scott free for most crimes nobody wants the US to breath down their neck.

 

[Sultan]

He wrote on his website on Monday that he had been unwell in the last 10 days and was on a course of antibiotics for suspected bronchitis.
"My body finally broke down on me," he wrote. "What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.
"I didn't have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic and the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63927054

 

[Zlatattack]

People from all over the world are vlogging about how they're having a great time in Qatar and 1 guy dies and assume its murder.

1. Nobody in Qatar is really bothered about what Westerners think.

2. As football fans we should know that it is rare, but not completely unheard of for Fit young men to have potentially fatal conditions. In the last few years we've seen Muamba, Eriksen, even Aguero who'd have likely been playing yesterday if it wasn't for his heart condition.

Qatar aren't going to bury him in the desert, or chuck him in an incinerator. The human remains of Grant will be sent home to his family so he can be buried in accordance to thier wishes.

They'll obviously carry out a post mortem, and there will also obviously be a post mortem in the US too. The circumstances around his death will be clarified.

 

[Sultan]

Nobody, I mean Nobody kills an American Journalist for fun, it's bad business and a stupid business. I don't even think Russian / Cuba / North Korea even does this for shits and giggle, let alone Qatar who has no military of any sort or anything to gain pissing off the big boys.

Most countries would think 10x before messing around with a US nationality passport, they'd go off scott free for most crimes nobody wants the US to breath down their neck.

Not always correct. Israel killed a very prominent journalist recently who was an American citizen of Arab descent.

"Israel has said it will not cooperate with an FBI investigation into the killing of the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli army. Israel’s defence minister, Benny Gantz, denounced the inquiry as “interference in Israel’s internal affairs” and said he “made it clear to the American representatives that we stand behind the IDF [Israel defence forces] soldiers, that we will not cooperate with any external investigation”.

 

[moses]

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...world-cup-2022-heart-attack-soccer-journalist

I hope his death doesn't become a political tool. Some will attack Qatar with zero evidence, and he has become a hate figure lately for the American right so I just hope his family are spared the almost inevitable nonsense.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Rule number 1 is to always follow the rules and culture of the place wherever you go.
Rule number 2 is if it makes you uncomfortable that you have to follow 1, do not go there.

RIP. I dont like this World Cup.

oh get fecked, that’s not how investigative journalism works man.

 

[Red4Ever]

People from all over the world are vlogging about how they're having a great time in Qatar and 1 guy dies and assume its murder.

1. Nobody in Qatar is really bothered about what Westerners think.

2. As football fans we should know that it is rare, but not completely unheard of for Fit young men to have potentially fatal conditions. In the last few years we've seen Muamba, Eriksen, even Aguero who'd have likely been playing yesterday if it wasn't for his heart condition.

Qatar aren't going to bury him in the desert

They'll obviously carry out a post mortem, and there will also obviously be a post mortem in the US too. The circumstances around his death will be clarified.

yup; lots of journalists are basically enjoying the ride; ironically adding to the sportswashing

I agree with everything else you said
This is probably not a murder

 

[moses]

oh get fecked, that’s not how investigative journalism works man.

Indeed.

But let's please keep this thread about the deceased.

 

[jadajos]

Nobody, I mean Nobody kills an American Journalist for fun, it's bad business and a stupid business. I don't even think Russian / Cuba / North Korea even does this for shits and giggle, let alone Qatar who has no military of any sort or anything to gain pissing off the big boys.

Most countries would think 10x before messing around with a US nationality passport, they'd go off scott free for most crimes nobody wants the US to breath down their neck.

I think you misunderstood me, I guess I could have phrased it better. Though I actually stated at the beginning of my post that I am reading this news as nothing else than a tragic loss. I absolutely agree with your reasoning.

The part about Indonesia was my answer to the question why some people might be quicker to lean towards creating criminal theories in some countries than others. With trust in the judicial system playing an important role rather than racism. However, I don’t want to derail this any further.

 

[Abizzz]

Horrible news. Hopefully the US can take / are given his body before it's too late to unquestionably ascertain the cause of death.

I am not one for conspiracy theories, but one doesn't have to be to not believe a pathologically lying regime (And yes Bombs/West/NEWS bla bla bla, I have 1000times more trust in the US government, even if it's done plenty of lying itself. Deal with it)

 

[Offside]

Very sad RIP.

This is one case where I don’t think of the conspiracy theorists as being moronic children. But still, when you think about it critically and possess a decent amount of logical thought, the State obviously didn’t decide to murder a random journalist who tried to wear a rainbow t-shirt into a game. Obviously just a horrible unknown health problem. So sad.

 

[El Jefe]

I get the feeling a lot of people want this to be foul play by Qatar, rather than hoping it's not.

 

[DixieDean]

He said he had a tight chest, last week, so it really seems like a heart attack. Only 49. So sad.

 

[DixieDean]

 

[rimaldo]

He said he had a tight chest, last week, so it really seems like a heart attack. Only 49. So sad.

yeah but a normal, god fearing western ‘too much alcohol and red meat’ heart attack or a ‘suppressor and terroristy’ middle eastern one?

 

[tenpoless]

oh get fecked, that’s not how investigative journalism works man.

Its just a general rule as reminder, not for journalists. Because I see people (my mates included, one of them is an LGBT supporter) who went to qatar to watch World Cup and refuse to adapt to some of the rules there. But hey it is what it is, people can do whatever they want.

Anyway lets hope his family can find the truth sooner than later. I cant watch the video that his brother posted, its too sad.

 

[sullydnl]

Its just a general rule as reminder, not for journalists. Because I see people (my mates included, one of them is an LGBT supporter) who went to qatar to watch World Cup and refuse to adapt to some of the rules there. But hey it is what it is, people can do whatever they want.

Anyway lets hope his family can find the truth sooner than later. I cant watch the video that his brother posted, its too sad.

Then why make it one of the first few posts in a thread about a dead journalist?

 

[tenpoless]

Then why make it one of the first few posts in a thread about a dead journalist?

My bad. I deleted it.

 

[Cassidy]

This thread has so many many issues

 

[WI_Red]

He wrote on his website on Monday that he had been unwell in the last 10 days and was on a course of antibiotics for suspected bronchitis.
"My body finally broke down on me," he wrote. "What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.
"I didn't have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic and the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63927054

I do think it’s madness to be throwing around theories he was murdered without any proof. It serves no purpose other than to cloud what actually happened and to feed the sensationalism beast.

It was almost certainly natural causes, and not a heart attack I think Legionnaires might be possible (I think it might have been mentioned previously). It lines up with the bronchitis diagnosis and multiple complaints about the air conditioning systems.

 

[Raoul]

RIP - sad and so young.

@Raoul I’m surprised you believe there’s foul play when he himself has blogged his own illness since he’s been there and his trips to the hospital. Is there any actual evidence that there’s something more going on?

Feel for his wife and family.

Thanks for pointing this out. The emotion of the moment drove the narrative when the story first broke last night.

 

[shamans]

I really doubt Qatar was involved in this. He wasn’t that important of a figure even when we talk about journalists that exposed Qatar there were higher figures. The return does not seem to be worth the risk.

That said, I feel for his brother. Suddenly losing a family member who was healthy can be extremely confusing and you want to look for answers.

For him and his families sake I hope theyre given the fullest transparency to put the matter at rest. I dont blame him for how he has come across.

 

[shamans]

Horrible news. Hopefully the US can take / are given his body before it's too late to unquestionably ascertain the cause of death.

I am not one for conspiracy theories, but one doesn't have to be to not believe a pathologically lying regime (And yes Bombs/West/NEWS bla bla bla, I have 1000times more trust in the US government, even if it's done plenty of lying itself. Deal with it)

The irony of this post.

 

[FootballHQ]

What was the kind of things he was covering?

He was a long time sports writer, was randomly reading an article a few weeks back awith him talking about 2006 world cup when Eric Wynalda admitted to him John Harkes had slept with his wife before the 98 World cup so he's been covering American Soccer for a very long time and I assume he's deemed one of the most authoritive voices on it.

Who knows what's happened with his reporting on Qatar but plenty of British journos have been covering the treatment of migrant workers for years so would seem a strange one to target given what his brother is saying.

Dare I say it but given how relatively high profile he is we'll know soon enough if any food/drink was tampered with compared to the alleged cover up of migrants deaths.

 

[horsechoker]

The caf has had a reasonable reaction to this.

Imgur is screaming bloody murder and sound insane

 

[Charrockero]

Yes, he was poisoned. I don’t have proofs but neither doubts.

CIA agents killed much more people with their military interventions in Central America and Chile and for worst reasons and no Murican’ ever dropped a tear for them. But anyways, Glod Bless America!