His brother believes that he could have been assassinated, since he had received “threats”.
American journalist Grant Wahl died in Qatar while covering the World Cup, US Soccer said in a statement.
“The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” said the statement, posted on US Soccer’s official Twitter account.
“Grant made football his life’s work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us,” they added.
US Soccer praised Wahl’s passion and “belief in the power of the game to advance human rights” and shared its condolences with Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, and their loved ones.
Grant Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, posted US Soccer’s statement on Twitter, writing: So grateful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl from the soccer family and so many friends who have reached out tonight. I am in complete shock.”
Wahl had previously covered Sports Illustrated, including 11 World Cups, and has written two books on the sport, according to his website.
Respected American sportswriter Grant Wahl passed away mysteriously in Qatar today. His brother thinks that he may have been murdered. https://t.co/gjP6w99Cdy
— Agustin Genovese (@agustingenovese) December 10, 2022
Earlier on Friday, Wahl tweeted about the quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands.
CNN reported in November that US soccer journalist Grant Wahl and former Wales captain Laura McAllister said security staff at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium before the US game against Wales had asked them to leave. They will remove the clothes with the colors of the rainbow.
On that occasion Wahl said he was held up and briefly denied entry to the game because of the “rainbow soccer ball jersey” he was wearing.
As he posted on Twitter, security personnel had told him: “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed”.
The journalist wrote on his website that when he tweeted about the incident on his phone, “a guard forcibly ripped my phone out of my hands.”
“I was told by a security guard that my T-shirt was ‘political’ and not allowed,” Wahl wrote.
“Another repeatedly refused to return my phone. Another guard yelled at me while he was on top of me, I was already sitting on a chair, that I had to take my shirt off ”.
We are heartbroken that former Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl died while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this tragic time. https://t.co/B9dhFPSPZq pic.twitter.com/2ydpmtguRF
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 10, 2022
After the incident, Wahl indicated that he was released 25 minutes after being arrested and that he received an apology from a FIFA representative and a senior member of the stadium’s security team.
Wahl told CNN on November 22 that he had been assured in advance that he would be allowed to wear the rainbow garment and that he would “probably” wear the shirt again, as he has “no fear at all about any of this.”
When asked about representing the LGBTQ community, Wahl said: “It’s really important to me and it’s not necessary, far from it.”
“I have relatives who are gay. I have friends who are gay. I have journalist friends who are gay here in Qatar. But that is not necessary to be supportive, to be an ally”.
think he was murdered
As reported by the New York Post, Grant fainted at the Lusail stadium in the quarterfinals between Argentina and the Netherlands, he was taken to a nearby hospital, but they did not confirm if he died while being transported or if he died at the medical center.
He even praised the free kick for the equalizer for the Europeans.
His brother shared a video on his Instagram account that it was a homicide: “My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I’m Grant Wahl’s brother. My brother was healthy. He told me that he received death threats. I don’t think my brother just died, I think he was murdered. And I just ask for any help.”
“I’m gay. I am the reason why he wore the rainbow jersey in the World Cup ”, he completed.
U.S. Soccer Statement On The Passing Of Grant Wahl: pic.twitter.com/CBp1mCK1mQ
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 10, 2022
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