Micah Richards receives tragic news before England World Cup match
Micah Richards was informed of his father’s passing just moments before going on air for England’s World Cup defeat to Argentina, reports BritPanorama.
The former Manchester City player expressed his sorrow in a poignant social media post following the programme’s conclusion, stating: “Dad would’ve wanted the show to go on.”
Richards, 38, was serving as a pundit for the BBC in Atlanta when he learned about his father’s death. He reminisced about his father, Lincoln, through a childhood photograph, saying, “His death was unexpected, and he has left us all too soon.”
In the heartfelt message, he recalled, “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.” Richards noted the significance of the World Cup in uniting families, remarking, “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.”
He added, “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.”
Messages of support flooded in from sports colleagues. Joe Hart, a former Manchester City goalkeeper working alongside Richards, wrote: “Sending love Meeks… here for you all. RIP Lincoln.” Jamie Carragher, who collaborates with Richards on Sky Sports and CBS, sent his condolences, saying: “Sending love to you & all the family.” Former England Lioness Jill Scott also expressed her sympathy: “Thinking of you and your family Micah.”
Richards has often acknowledged the profound influence of his father, who emigrated from St Kitts in the 1960s. In a past interview, he discussed the challenges of growing up in Chapeltown, a tough area in Leeds, noting, “I have been able to deal with all the stuff that has come my way. That’s down to Dad. He set standards for me.”
Through the pain, Richards’ ability to honour his father’s memory while continuing his professional commitments illustrates the deep bond between them, a poignant reminder of how sport often intersects with our personal lives.
