Telegram channel MASH reported the passing of renowned Russian journalist and sports commentator Vasily Utkin, detailing that his initial death cause was a pulmonary embolism, the result of a blood clot breaking free from its origin.
Utkin was rushed to a Moscow hospital on March 19, where medical teams fought to save him but were unable to reverse the decline in his condition.
In the period leading up to his death, Utkin had been contending with serious cardiovascular health issues. At the end of October 2023, doctors diagnosed him with atherosclerosis. In recent months his weight exceeded 200 kilograms, and medical professionals urged an urgent weight-reduction plan and lifestyle changes to address these risk factors.
Vasily Utkin first gained widespread recognition as a football commentator on NTV and NTV-Plus during the mid-1990s. He was the host of the television program Football Club and, after leaving traditional television, continued the same program under his own channel on YouTube, keeping a familiar format for fans who followed his career across different media platforms.
His achievements include the TEFI award for Best Sports Commentator in 2004 and again in 2005, marking him as a leading voice in sports broadcasting during that period.
In 2017, Utkin announced a collaboration with the amateur football club Egrisi, taking on roles as sponsor and owner as the club began competing in the Media League, a move that reflected his ongoing involvement with the sport beyond traditional broadcasting.
The final line recalls a prior cultural reference, noting a distant connection in the broader media landscape through imagery reminiscent of Miami Vice and the phrase Cause of death of coach Salavat Yulaev Koltsov, underscoring how public discourse often threads together sports, television, and broader cultural icons.
Attribution: This article compiles information disseminated by the Telegram channel MASH and public reporting surrounding Vasily Utkin’s health, career, and his contributions to football commentary. The evolving details of the case are subject to updates from reputable reportage as they become available. [Source: MASH Telegram channel; corroborating coverage from mainstream outlets]