World Cup reporter Grant Wahl died 49 days after being jailed for wearing an LGBTQ+ shirt

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9:02 pm PT — LeBron James shared kind words about Wahl, who wrote the NBA superstar’s first Sports Illustrated cover story while he was a high school phenom at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary…remembers the reporter as a special person.

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Spectrum SportsNet

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“First of all, my condolences to his family,” James said after the Laker game. “I really liked Grant and that camera work – I’m a teenager and he covered it – it was a pretty cool thing and he was always pretty cool to be with.”

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“It’s a tragic loss,” he added. “It’s unfortunate to lose someone as great as he was. I wish his family the best and may he rest in paradise.”

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7:53 pm PT — CBS News reports, citing sources familiar with the situation, that Grant Wahl suffered a heart attack at the stadium.

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Wahl explained in a podcast Thursday that he contracted bronchitis while covering the World Cup … which forced him to take several days off from reporting.

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Wahl said he visited the medical clinic several times because he was under the weather … but felt better.

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6:59 pm PT – Grant Wahl’s wife Celine just released a statement on his death… which reads: ‘I am so grateful for the support of my husband @GrantWahl’s football family and so many friends who reached out tonight. “

CBS sportswriter Grant Wahl – one of the country’s most respected football reporters – died while covering the World Cup, his brother announced on Friday. He was 49 years old.

Grant was in Qatar when he died… and Eric Wahl believes foul play was involved as he claims the reporter received death threats for wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

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Instagram / @eewahl

Eric says Grant has no health issues… explaining in a heartbreaking Instagram video: “I don’t think my brother just died. I think he was killed.”

As we previously reported, Wahl was detained for almost 30 minutes following World Cup security on November 21… after he showed up for the United States’ first tournament match against Wales at Qatar’s Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.

To show his support for the LGBTQ+ community in a country where homosexuality is illegal, he wore a t-shirt with a soccer ball and a rainbow pattern.

At the time, Eric praised his brother and denounced the Football Association… saying: “Shame on @FIFA for losing control of this corrupt World Cup.”

Grant live-tweeted the Argentina-Netherlands game a few hours ago…his last post came at 1:05pm PT.

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9.12.22

Eric says he spoke to Grant’s wife Celine, who says he collapsed at the stadium and received CPR before being taken to a hospital, where he died.

Eric added that Celine has spoken to Ron Klain, President Joe Biden’s chief of staff, as well as the White House.

US Soccer released a statement on Wahl’s death… which read: “The entire US soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl.”

“Here in the United States, Grant’s passion for football and commitment to raising his profile in our sporting landscape has played an important role in raising interest and respect for our beautiful game.”

“Grant’s belief in the power of play to advance human rights has been and continues to be an inspiration to all.”

Grant’s last article on his substack focused on Qatari officials’ apathy towards the rash of World Cup-related migrant worker deaths… saying, “They just don’t care.”

Originally published — 6:35 p.m. PT