The cause of death of a second journalist covering the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday has not yet been determined.
According to the Daily Mail, Khalid al-Misslam, a Qatari photographer for Al Kass TV, has passed away.
Al Kass TV photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed away recently.
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. pic.twitter.com/M1ZyoBJWkW— Gulf-Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) December 10, 2022
Gulf Times, a Qatar-based news company, sent a tweet regarding his death claiming the photojournalist passed away ”recently.” As of Monday, no additional information has been disclosed concerning his demise.
The timing of the second death of a journalist, following on the heels of Friday’s loss of reporter Grant Wahl, raised eyebrows, with one soccer training facility in the U.S. tweeting, “What is going on?”
It has been reported that Al Kass TV photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam died suddenly on Saturday while covering the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
What is going on?
— Cruz Coaching (@CoachingCruz) December 11, 2022
A second journalist dies in Qatar whilst covering the #WorldCup. Photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam from Qatari news channel Al Kass TV passed away on Saturday; a day before that, US soccer journalist Grant Wahl, 48, collapsed at the match between Argentina and the Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/yy7tXdQl8B
— Monica Grayley (@MonicaGrayley) December 11, 2022
Eric Wahl, Wahl’s brother, said following Wahl’s death that his brother may have been assassinated, citing the reporter’s hostility for the Qatari regime, as reported by the New York Post.
Eric Wahl tweeted further comments regarding his brother.
In NYC now. Can update that Grant did go to hospital in an ambulance. Colleagues followed in an Uber. 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.
— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) December 12, 2022
Regardless of the outcome, I have nothing to apologize for. Thoroughly corrupt people & organizations remain thoroughly corrupt people & organizations & must always be held to scrutiny & account. This World Cup never should have taken place where it did.
— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) December 12, 2022
According to the Post, Grant Wahl reported having bronchitis the day before he passed away.
“My body I think told me, even after the U.S. went out, ‘dude, you are not sleeping enough.’ It rebelled on me. So I’ve had a case of bronchitis this week. I’ve been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now, including today,” he said on his podcast.
“I’m feeling better today I basically canceled everything on this Thursday that I had and napped. And I’m doing slightly better. I think you can probably tell in my voice that I’m not 100 percent,” he said.
Also on Saturday, according to the Guardian, a World Cup security guard fell from a “significant height” during Friday night’s quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
According to the Guardian, the guard was a migrant laborer in stable but serious condition.
A Filipino employed to repair lights in a parking lot died after a fall earlier in the tournament.
After the worker’s death, Nasser al-Khater, the president of Qatar’s World Cup operations, stated, “death is a natural part of life – whether it’s at work, whether it’s in your sleep.”