An American sports journalist who covered the World Cup, Grant Wahl, died in Qatar on Friday. The American Football Association and his wife Céline Gounder report this. The 48-year-old journalist’s brother claims he was killed because of support for the LGBTQ+ community. Nothing has yet been announced about the cause of death. The American football league US Soccer says it is “heartbroken” by his death.
LOOK. The well-known American sports journalist Grant Wahl reported on the World Cup in Qatar, but died shortly after the quarterfinal between the Netherlands and Argentina
According to the American radio station NPR, Wahl collapsed in the press gallery. That happened shortly after the end of the quarterfinal between the Netherlands and Argentina. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him on the spot before carrying him away on a stretcher. According to The Wall Street Journal, Wahl would have suffered a heart attack.
The last thing that appeared on Wahl’s Twitter account on Friday was a compliment to the goal of the Netherlands.
Wahl, who lived to be 48 years old, worked for CBS Sports and was one of the most famous American sports journalists. A few days before his death, he was briefly detained by authorities in Qatar for appearing in a rainbow shirt at the stadium where the US was due to play against Wales. Homosexuality is a criminal offense in Qatar.
“Death threats”
In an emotional video message on Instagram, Eric Wahl says he suspects intent in the death of his brother Grant. According to Eric, his brother received death threats after the incident. “He was perfectly healthy. He couldn’t have just died.”
In his podcast Fútbol with Grant Wahl, the journalist said on Thursday that he had twice sought medical help in Qatar for a bronchitis that he said he contracted due to fatigue. “My body told me, buddy, you’re not sleeping enough. And it rebelled.”
U.S. Soccer
@ussoccer
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.
