After being jailed in Qatar for wearing a rainbow T-shirt, GRANT Wahl’s heartbroken brother believes his brother was murdered there.
The 48-year-old sports writer passed away on Friday in Doha following what is believed to have been a heart attack during the quarterfinal encounter between Argentina and the Netherlands.
Grant reportedly fell back in his seat during the additional time before the US media next to him sought for assistance.
Emergency services arrived quickly, but he tragically passed away.
The journalist made waves earlier in the tournament when he claimed he was turned away from a game because he was wearing a rainbow T-shirt. He was covering his ninth World Cup.
His grieving brother Eric Wahl questioned the circumstances of his passing in a moving video.
“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said.
“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.”
In a post on Twitter, he said: “I spoke with Grant just the other day for his birthday. He thought he’d caught bronchitis. I no longer believe that’s what it was.”
Eric added: “We all want answers.”
A Qatar organising committee spokesperson said Grant “received immediate emergency medical treatment on site, which continued as he was transferred by ambulance to Hamad General Hospital”.
Celine Gounder, Grant’s widow, described her reaction to her husband’s passing as “total astonishment.”
She uttered: “I am extremely appreciative of the help from my husband Grant Wahl’s soccer family and all of the friends who have been in touch with me tonight. I’m in utter disbelief.”
Authorities were in “tight communication,” according to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, with Grant’s family.
He said: “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.”
A day before to his fall, Grant enjoyed his 48th birthday party in Qatar on Thursday.
When he was temporarily arrested and denied access to the Wales-USA Group B game because he was wearing a rainbow shirt earlier in the tournament, he made headlines.
Finally, security personnel permitted him to wear it to the game.
Grant revealed on Monday that he had been given a bronchitis diagnosis.
He wrote on his website: “My body finally broke down on me.
“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.
“I didn’t have Covid (I test regularly here), but I went into the medical clinic and the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis.”
He said: “His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game.
“We express our sincerest condolences to his wife Céline, his family, and his friends at this most difficult time.”
Piers Morgan said: “He was a brilliant journalist. RIP.”
The US Soccer Federation said: “The entire US Soccer family is heartbroken.
“Grant’s passion for soccer and commitment to elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and respect for our beautiful game.”
Grant, who covered college basketball and football for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, was well renowned for his work.
Lebron James’ rise to fame is attributed to a profile he wrote on the NBA player while he was a high school student.
Approximately one year after appearing in the article, NBA superstar LeBron James would be selected with the first overall choice.
James paid tribute to the late sportswriter, describing his death as a “tragic loss”.
He said: “Even when I moved up in the ranks and became a professional and he kind of went to a different sport and things of that nature of the years, any time his name would come up I would always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building down at St. V. So it’s a tragic loss.
Nate Scott, senior director of USA Today sports media group, tweeted: “Grant was an established pro who went out of his way to help me multiple times in my career when he had no reason to.
“He took delight in seeing this sport grow in this country and wanted to lift those of us around him up. A horrible, horrible day for American soccer.”