Grant Wahl, an American sports journalist, passed away at the age of 48 on Friday. Wahl was covering Friday’s Argentina-Netherlands World Cup match when he reportedly fell back in his seat. As he fell backward, reporters nearby called for medical assistance. Shortly thereafter, British sports journalist Keir Radnedge says emergency medical professionals treated Wahl for 20-30 minutes before taking him out of the venue on a stretcher. Wahl was transported to Hamad General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
“I am so thankful for the support of my husband, Grant Wahl‘s, soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight,” his wife, Céline Gounder, tweeted.
“I’m in complete shock.”
Wahl’s brother, Eric Wahl, also shared his thoughts via social media. In a lengthy video, Eric Wahl mourned the loss of his brother before referring to an incident that took place one week earlier. While in Qatar, a nation that has been criticized heavily for its treatment of LGBTQIA+ people, Grant Wahl wore a rainbow-colored soccer t-shirt in support of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Following America’s group stage match against Wales, Grant Wahl said that he had been detained for a short period of time because of the shirt.
“I am gay. I am the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup,” Eric Wahl said.
“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’m just begging for any help.”
As Wahl’s family attempts to learn more about his death, Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King and several others continue to pay tribute to the late journalist.
“I’ve always kind of watched from a distance even when I moved up in ranks and became a professional, and he went to a different sport,” Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James said.
“Any time his name would come up I’ll always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building…It’s a tragic loss.”
