Grant Wahl's brother retracts claim that journalist was 'killed' in Qatar

Grant Wahl's brother Eric has withdrawn an allegation that his sibling was "killed" while reporting on the World Cup in Qatar.

Grant, 48, died while reporting on the World Cup quarter-final clash between Argentina and the Netherlands on Friday.

His wife announced on Wednesday that he had died from an undetected health issue.

"I regret the video," Eric Wahl told The New York Post on Tuesday.

"I was in shock, and I just had limited information to go on.

"I am especially sorry to any people in the Muslim world that I offended. It was never my intention."

He also tweeted on Tuesday: "I no longer suspect foul play."

In a video published on Instagram, Eric had previously said his brother, who was stopped before an earlier match as he entered the stadium for a wearing a rainbow shirt, had received death threats.

"I believe he was killed," Eric said in the video. His account was since set to private.

Qatar criminalises homosexuality and Grant said security guards told him the shirt was "political". Doha, however, has previously stated that people of "all sexual orientations" were welcome at the World Cup.

Grant's widow Céline Gounder, a well-known medical journalist and epidemiologist, posted to the writer's blog on Wednesday, saying there was "nothing nefarious about his death".

The New York City Medical Examiner's Office had conducted a post-mortem examination, she said.

"Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium," she added.

"The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms.

"No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him."

U.S. Soccer Statement On The Passing Of Grant Wahl: pic.twitter.com/CBp1mCK1mQ

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 10, 2022

She said his passing had nothing to do with coronavirus or his vaccination status.

"While the world knew Grant as a great journalist, we knew him as a man who approached the world with openness and love," Gounder wrote.

"Grant was an incredibly empathetic, dedicated, and loving husband, brother, uncle, and son who was our greatest teammate and fan."

Agencies contributed to this report.