American football journalist Grant Wahl has passed away in Qatar after being detained few days ago for wearing a rainbow jersey. The news was confirmed by National Public Radio.
Grant Wahl was seen on twitter talking about the Netherlands vs Argentina game. His brother has alleged that he didn’t die of natural causes and was killed. Wahl recently came to limelight a few days ago when he was detained by the Qatari guards for wearing a rainbow jersey on his way to cover the USA vs Wales match.
“When I arrived at the stadium media entrance to cover the United States-Wales World Cup game today wearing a rainbow soccer ball t-shirt supporting the LGBTQ community, the security guards refused to let me in, detained me for 25 minutes and angrily demanded that I remove my t-shirt,” Grant Wahl wrote on his substack.
USMNT releases a statement on Grant Wahl’s death
The official twitter handle of USMNT released a statement on his death.
“THE ENTIRE U.S. SOCCER FAMILY IS HEARTBROKEN TO LEARN THAT WE HAVE LOST GRANT WAHL. FANS OF SOCCER AND JOURNALISM OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY KNEW WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON GRANT TO DELIVER INSIGHTFUL AND ENTERTAINING STORIES ABOUT OUR GAME, AND ITS MAJOR PROTAGONISTS: TEAMS, PLAYERS, COACHES AND THE MANY PERSONALITIES THAT MAKE SOCCER UNLIKE ANY SPORT. HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, 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. AS IMPORTANT, GRANT’S BELIEF IN THE POWER OF THE GAME TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS WAS, AND WILL REMAIN, AN INSPIRATION TO ALL. GRANT MADE SOCCER HIS LIFE’S WORK, AND WE ARE DEVASTATED THAT HE AND HIS BRILLIANT WRITING WILL NO LONGER BE WITH US. U.S. SOCCER SENDS ITS SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO GRANT’S WIFE, DR. CELINE GOUNDER, AND ALL OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA. AND WE THANK GRANT FOR HIS TREMENDOUS DEDICATION TO AND IMPACT ON OUR GAME IN THE UNITED STATES. HIS WRITING AND THE STORIES HE TOLD WILL LIVE ON,” USMNT’s twitter handle posted.
Grant Wahl’s wife reacts to her husbands death
Celine Gounder, who is the wife of Grant Wahl also reacted to the tragic death of her husband.
“I am so thankful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl‘s soccer family & of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight. I’m in complete shock,” Celine Gounder wrote on twitter.
