Micah Richards revealed he learned of his father Lincoln's passing just moments before going on air to cover England's World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina for the BBC.
Richards, 38, shared the news in an emotional Instagram post published shortly after the broadcast concluded. He worked as a pundit for the match, which was broadcast live from Atlanta, carrying out his professional duties despite receiving the "awful news."
"Not long before going on air today, I received the awful news that my father Lincoln had passed away," Richards wrote in his post, accompanied by a childhood photograph. "His death was unexpected, and he has left us all too soon."
He described his father as his "greatest fan," noting that Lincoln "barely missed a game my entire life" and was a constant presence during his childhood and professional career. Richards stated that his father "would've wanted the show to go on this evening," and so it did.
Messages of support poured in from fellow players and former teammates. Joe Hart, a former England and Manchester City goalkeeper working alongside Richards in Atlanta, offered his condolences, as did midfielder James Maddison and former England player Jill Scott.
Richards has previously spoken about the significant influence of his father, who immigrated to the UK from St. Kitts in the 1960s. He recounted in 2007 how his father's strong principles and guidance helped him navigate a challenging upbringing in Leeds and remain grounded. "It's been great to have that sort of person behind me but at the same time I learned how to be my own man," Richards had said.