WASHINGTON: A US journalist banned in Qatar for wearing an ax shirt in support of the LGBTQ community has died. US journalist Grant Wahl (48) arrived in Qatar while reporting on the FIFA World Cup.
Grant collapsed while covering a match between Argentina and the Netherlands. His brother Eric accused Qatar of being behind the death of Grant, a former Sports Illustrated reporter. “My name is Eric Wahl. I live in Seattle, Washington. I am Grant Wahl’s brother. I am gay. It was thanks to me that Grant came to the World Cup venue wearing a Mazhavil shirt. My brother was healthy. His brother he said he received repeated death threats for wearing the Mazhavil shirt. His was no ordinary death. He was killed. I’m asking for help,” Eric said in a video message posted on Instagram.
It is unclear whether Grant died in hospital or en route. Grant said when Mazhavil arrived to watch the US-Wales game at the Ahmed Bin Ali stadium, he was stopped by security officials who told him he would not be allowed to watch the game without taking it off. Grant’s cell phone was taken away to prevent him from sharing it on social media. Security personnel later apologized for the incident. Eric said FIFA officials also apologized to Grant.
US journalist dies a few days after a brief detention in Qatar for the rainbow jersey
