The respected and well known American journalist Grant Wahl died in Qatar last night after collapsing during the Netherlands vs Argentina game.
The 49-year-old appearing to have been tweeting regularly up to the moment he collapsed. His final tweet was just after the Netherland's scored a freekick. "Just an incredible designed set-piece goal by the Netherlands," the journalist tweeted.
The LA Times reported that he was treated for 20 minutes after he collapsed and then was removed from the stadium on a stretcher and taken to a Qatari hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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On his website Mr Wahl had recently written: "“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you. 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 went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno".
His wife posted on Twitter that she was in "complete shock". She also wrote: "I am so thankful for the support of my husband Grant Wahl's soccer family & of so many friends who've reached out tonight."
A statement from the US Soccer Federation reads: "The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl.
"Fans of soccer and journalism of the highest quality knew we could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists: teams, players, coaches and the many personalities that make soccer unlike any sport. Here in the United States, Grant's passion for soccer and commitment to elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and respect for our beautiful game.
"As important, Grant's belief in the power of the game to advance human rights was, and will remain, an inspiration to all. Grant made soccer his life's work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us. US Soccer its sincerest condolences to Grant's wife, DR Celine Gounder, and all of his family members, friends and colleagues in the media.
"And we thanks Grant for his tremendous dedication to and impact on our game in the United States. His writing and the stories he told will live on."
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