Watch: Tearful Erik Wahl Suspects Foul Play in Brother's Death
The exact reason for Grant Wahl's unexpected death while covering the World Games in Qatar on Friday has yet to be officially determined, but in an emotional Instagram his out brother Erik claims he may have been targeted.
That Grant Wahl was unwell for the past week was known in the sports journalist community, but the death of the 38 year old, seemingly healthy man sent shocks through the soccer community.
Grant Wahl was a leading sports journalist who wrote a popular Substack column, did soccer analysis for CBS Sports, worked at Fox Sports, and was a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. “Wahl had covered soccer for more than two decades, including 11 World Cups — six men's, five women's – and authored several books on the sport, according to his websites ” reports CNN. He had just celebrated his birthday earlier this week with “a great group of media friends at the World Cup,” according to a post on his official Twitter account, which added: “Very thankful for everyone.”
He made headlines late last month when he wore a Pride shirt to the opening games of the Cup and was detained, The Guardian reported. He said he was then detained for 25 minutes and told to remove his shirt, which a member of security staff said was “political”. He was also asked if he was from the UK. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
He said n his short, emotional video he posted shortly after learning of his brother's death: “My name is Erik Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington, and I am Grant Wahl's brother. I am gay. And 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.”
The reason for Wahl's death has yet to be determined. Earlier in the week, CNN reports, on “an episode of the podcast Futbol with Grant Wahl, published days before his death on December 6, he had complained of feeling unwell.
“It had gotten pretty bad in terms of like the tightness in my chest, tightness, pressure. Feeling pretty hairy, bad,” Wahl told co-host Chris Wittyngham in the episode. He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center, believing he had bronchitis. He was given cough syrup and ibuprofen, and felt better shortly afterward, he said.
CNN adds that the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the department was in “close communication” with Wahl's family. The World Cup organizers also said they were in touch with the US embassy “to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family's wishes.”