Grant Wahl, an American journalist covering the FIFA World Cup 2022, died Friday in Qatar. The former Sports Illustrated senior writer was covering the Argentina vs Netherlands quarterfinal match.
Reporters seated near him said that the 48-year-old fell back in his seat in the media tribune at the Lusail Iconic Stadium during extra time. He was given CPR before being taken by Uber to an area hospital, where he died.
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Wahl was detained for nearly 30 minutes by World Cup security on November 21 after he showed up at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar for the United States versus Wales game wearing an LGBTQ rainbow shirt. His brother Eric Wahl, in a now deleted social media post, said alleged that the Qatari government may have been involved in the death of the sports writer.
Eric said that his brother was healthy.
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“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“I’m the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. My brother was healthy. He told me he received death threats. I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed. And I just beg for any help.”
Grant Wahl wrote on his website Monday that he had visited a medical clinic after experiencing discomfort in his upper chest.
“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,” Wahl wrote.
He further added that he tested negative for COVID-19.
“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.”
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted: “We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Grant Wahl and send our condolences to his family, with whom we have been in close communication. We are engaged with senior Qatari officials to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible.”
Wahl is survived by his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder and two dogs.
