DOHA, QATAR: Legendary US football writer Grant Wahl died in Qatar on December 9 while reporting on the FIFA World Cup, followed by a protest in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Fans of the soccer world are shaken by his sudden tragic demise, with his brother Eric Wahl alleging, “I believe he was killed.”
The former Sports Illustrated reporter's mysterious death comes after he was detained for nearly half an hour ahead of the USA’s opening match of the tournament against Wales on November 21. Wahl was reportedly denied entry for allegedly wearing a shirt showing a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow, which the security guards demanded be removed.
READ MORE
On the day of his death, Wahl was covering Argentina’s chaotic quarterfinal win over the Netherlands when he collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital in an Uber but shortly died. The veteran reporter's death was confirmed by his brother. However, announcing the death Eric also alleged foul play regarding the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death.
"My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay. I am 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 help,” Eric said in the video. “We’re still trying to find out (what happened). He collapsed at the stadium, was given cpr, was taken by Uber to hospital and died according to Celine. We just spoke with the state department and Celine has spoken to Ron Klain and the White House,” Eric wrote in a comment on the post.
Many speculated the renowned reporter's death could be related to Wahl slamming the Qatar government for the thousands of deaths and ongoing mistreatment of migrant workers to build the infrastructure for the FIFA tournament, claiming "They just don't care." He claimed that the Supreme Committee in charge of Qatar’s World Cup doesn’t care that a Filipino migrant worker died during Saudi Arabia's training during the group stage after he suffered a fatal blow to the head during a fall in a forklift accident. He noted that the information was kept secret until The Athletic’s Adam Crafton covered it.
"We know the Qatari Supreme Committee doesn’t care because its CEO, Nasser Al-Khater, told you all you needed to hear in an interview with the BBC that was breathtaking in its crassness," reported Fútbol with Grant Wahl. “We’re in the middle of a World Cup, and we have a successful World Cup. And this is something that you want to talk about right now?” Al-Khater said when asked about the worker’s death. “I mean, death is a natural part of life, whether it’s at work, whether it’s in your sleep. Of course, a worker died. Our condolences go to his family. However, it’s strange that this is something that you wanted to focus on as your first question,” reported the source. Wahl noted in the article that, “They just don’t care. Qatari World Cup organisers don’t even hide their apathy over migrant worker deaths, including the most recent one.”
The news of his death spread like wildfire and people immediately started speculating about what was the reason for his death as many refused to believe he died after collapsing especially since his brother alleged murder. One wrote: "Brilliant sports writer covering a scandalised event in context and pays for exercising that right with his life. The whole event there has been sickening; this is a culminating moment of criminal disgrace."
Another called for accountability: "This is tragic. People MUST be held accountable." One theorized, "I’ll get real close for you. 1.) covid vaccine death 2.) dark possibility: Qatar really angry about his rainbow shirt situation and someone possibly put something in his food or drink." Another shared: "If it was foul play, it would be because of his stories on the thousands of migrant worker deaths that occurred during the stadium construction." A social media user wrote: "Wild that a very healthy young man collapsed after a political demonstration and death threats."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.