CBS Sports journalist Grant Wahl died at the age of 48 while covering the match between Argentina and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, his brother announced Friday. 

Although his official cause of death has not been revealed yet, some of the news reports said that he had been sick for past several days. “I had a case of bronchitis this week,” he said yesterday, according to BNO News. “I’ve been to the medical clinic at the media center twice now, including today. I’m feeling better today.”

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However, his brother, Eric Wahl believes foul play was involved, as he claims that the reporter was receiving death threats over wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Showing support of any form toward the queer, same-sex, or trans community has been banned by the Middle-Eastern country, to the point that several European football team members were prohibited from sporting the “one-love” band during the games.

Eric has said that Grant did not have any health issues. In an Instagram video, he said, “I do not believe my brother just died. I believe he was killed.”

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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.

Who was Grant Wahl? 

Grant Wahl was a soccer analyst for CBS Sports and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. He was also a correspondent for Fox Sports and the author of the book The Beckham Experiment.

He was born in Mission, Kansas and attended Shawnee Mission East High School. After that, he went on to study at Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics in 1996.

During his first year at Princeton University, he covered the Princeton Tigers men’s soccer team. 

In 1996, Wahl began his career working with the Miami Herald as an intern. He then went on to join Sports Illustrated in November 1996, where he covered college basketball as well as soccer.

Before his death, he had reported on 12 NCAA basketball tournaments, eight FIFA World Cups, and four Olympic games. 

Wahl was married to Celine Gounder, a doctor and medical journalist who specializes in infectious diseases and global health.