Grant Wahl’s brother backtracks on claims foul play was a factor in the football journalist’s death

The body of football journalist Grant Wahl has been returned to the USA with his brother backtracking on claims of murder and revealing what he believes really happened.

Grant Wahl passed away while covering the World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

The body of football journalist Grant Wahl, who died suddenly during a match at the World Cup, has been returned to the USA for an autopsy with his brother retracting his initial claims of murder.

Wahl, an influential soccer writer and former Sports Illustrated journalist, died during the Argentina v Netherlands clash last Saturday.

Witnesses at the stadium said Wahl had been jovial and energetic in the moments leading up to his collapse.

He was attended to by medical experts who performed CPR at the stadium before being stretchered away. Those in the immediate vicinity have since questioned why there was no defibrillator available.

But according to Wahl’s brother Eric, speculation about a lack of medical equipment is false and they now believe the likely cause of death a pulmonary embolism.

“We are travelling with Grant’s body to the medical examination & autopsy,” Eric shared on his Twitter feed.

I apologize unequivocally. But my initial statement stemmed from 2 things, neither of which related to racism: concerning things Grant told me, and well-known corruption. https://t.co/j5QhTmvAPR

— Eric Wahl (@ziplamak) December 13, 2022

A tribute was played to Grant Wahl during the Argentina and Netherlands match. Picture: Getty Images

“Per a US gov official, FIFA is saying AEDs were available at the stadium.

“It seems possible Grant experienced a pulmonary embolism and was in a non-shockable state.

“Please keep Celine in your thoughts. She & her mother & sisters have gone to make the ID. I couldn’t do it, for my own sanity.

“So I’m sitting here with Grant’s shoulder bag, staring at it like it should tell me something.”

A fearless journalist, Wahl had been relentless in shining a light on the human rights issues in Qatar as well as the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

Two weeks before his death, Wahl was detained by police for wearing a rainbow shirt.

Eric was initially convinced it was his brother’s exposure of the country’s issues that had caused his death.

“My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I’m gay,” he said in a video on Instagram.

“I’m the reason he (Grant) 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.”

Eric has since apologised for his initial reaction but denied it was racially motivated.

“I apologize unequivocally,” he said on Tuesday.

“But my initial statement stemmed from 2 things, neither of which related to racism: concerning things Grant told me, and well-known corruption.”

Since arriving back in the USA, Eric has confirmed that New York Police officers remain in Doha investigating his brother’s death.