The brother of deceased American journalist Grant Wahl is speaking out again after his viral video accused someone of taking the life of his brother while he was covering the World Cup in Qatar.
The 48-year-old Wahl died after he “fell ill” at Lusail Stadium in the final minutes of a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal game between the Netherlands and Argentina Friday. Wahl was laughing with colleagues just minutes before his sudden death, an eyewitness said.
His brother, Eric Wahl, announced his brother’s death on Instagram and made an emotional plea for help.
“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” Eric Wahl said. “I’m 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 any help.”
The veteran soccer journalist had bronchitis and had visited a medical clinic twice in the days before his death. This is something he revealed himself while on a podcast.
This week, Eric is changing his tune and apologized for jumping the gun so soon after finding out more information.
“I regret the video,” Wahl said. “I was in shock, and I just had limited information to go on.
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“I’m especially sorry to any people in the Muslim world that I offended. It was never my intention.”
He added concerning communications he had with Grant before his death, saying, “if your journalist brother tells you about death threats [and] some strange man suddenly in his rental house just walking around, I couldn’t help but think the worst.”
In a separate tweet, he wrote, “The family will release a statement as to cause of death soon. I no longer suspect foul play. It was not PE.”
Wahl’s body was repatriated to the United States on Monday.
