Former England footballer Micah Richards revealed that he received the news of his father Lincoln Richards’ unexpected death just minutes before going on air to commentate on the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina for the BBC.
Richards, 38, was in Atlanta covering the match alongside former England players Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart.
The news of his father’s death arrived shortly before the program began, but the former defender did not publicly show the emotional impact during the broadcast. England were eventually defeated 2-1 by Argentina and missed out on a place in the tournament final.
After the match, Richards posted a tribute on social media, describing Lincoln as his “biggest fan,” hero and inspiration. He recalled his father’s support throughout his entire football career, from childhood to his time at Manchester City and with the England national team.
The pundit also highlighted that his father closely followed his sporting career and that the connection between family and football had always held a special meaning for both of them.
According to Richards, continuing with the broadcast was a way of honoring Lincoln’s memory, as he believed his father would have wanted him to fulfil his commitment.
“I know, particularly as a proud, old-school Yorkshireman, Dad would have wanted the show to go on tonight. And so it did,” he wrote in the caption of the post.
Richards’ decision prompted messages of support from colleagues in the football world and fans, who expressed their sympathy for the former player following the revelation.
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Photos: Instagram @micahrichards. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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