Micah Richards has revealed he learned of the unexpected death of his father Lincoln just moments before going live on air for BBC’s coverage of England’s World Cup match against Argentina.
Former Manchester City and England defender Richards was part of the BBC’s punditry team in Atlanta alongside Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart on Wednesday evening.
Richards worked through the broadcast as the Three Lions were eliminated from the World Cup, revealing the news shortly after the show went off the air.
‘Not long before going on air today, I received the awful news that my father Lincoln had passed away,’ Richards wrote on Instagram, alongside a picture from his childhood.
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‘His death was unexpected, and he has left us all too soon.
‘He was my greatest fan. He barely missed a game my entire life. He would take me wherever I needed to go when I was a kid and he was the proudest parent possible during my professional career. It was so rare for him to not be by my side.
‘I know how much watching England World Cup games means to everyone at home, and how the experience bonds families together across the generations, like nothing else. I know, particularly as a proud old-school Yorkshireman, dad would’ve wanted the show to go on this evening. And so it did.
‘Thinking of my siblings and all my wider family today as we remember my father Lincoln, my hero and inspiration.’
Hart, part of the BBC broadcast alongside Richards on the night was among those to send his condlences, writing: Sending love Meeks … here for you all . RIP Lincoln.’
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, part of a hilarious double act alongside Richards for CBS Sports, wrote: ‘Sending love to you & all the family.’
Richards is a familiar face across television, regularly appearing on Sky Sports while also starring alongside Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football on Netflix.
He made 13 appearances for England, playing for City, Fiorentina and Aston Villa before hanging up his boots in 2019.