Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15

Micah Richards Pays Tribute After Father Dies Before England's 2-1 Semi-Final Loss

Updated

Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15

Micah Richards Pays Tribute After Father Dies Before England's 2-1 Semi-Final Loss

Q: What 'old-school' values drove Micah Richards to go on air moments after his father’s tragic death?

Micah Richards was driven by a strong sense of duty, stoicism and professionalism — values he associated with his father as a “proud old-school Yorkshireman” who would have wanted “the show to go on.” Richards said his father, Lincoln, was a principled, standards-setting figure who kept him grounded and supported him throughout his career, barely missing a match. That upbringing appears to have shaped Richards’ response: honoring a commitment even in the middle of personal grief, especially for a major national event such as England’s World Cup semi-final. His decision also reflected respect for football as a shared family ritual. Richards noted how England World Cup matches bring families together across generations, and his father had long been his biggest supporter and companion in that world. Going on air was therefore not only an act of professionalism, but also a tribute to the values Lincoln embodied — resilience, reliability and putting the occasion above oneself. In that sense, Richards’ choice was less about suppressing emotion than about following the code his father lived by: be strong, do your job, and carry on.

Q: What happened behind the scenes when a pundit received tragic news just before a live World Cup broadcast?

Behind the scenes, Micah Richards was told that his father, Lincoln, had died unexpectedly just before he was due on air for the BBC’s World Cup semi-final coverage from Atlanta. Despite the shock, he chose to continue with the live broadcast. Richards later explained that his father, whom he called his “greatest fan,” “hero and inspiration,” would have wanted him to carry on. He described Lincoln as a “proud old-school Yorkshireman” and said “the show to go on” was what his father would have expected. Richards kept the news private until after the programme ended. On air, there was little sign of the personal tragedy unfolding off camera. He appeared alongside Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney and even joined in light pre-match banter with presenter Mark Chapman. Only later, in an Instagram tribute, did he reveal what had happened and the scale of the loss. In that tribute, Richards said his father had “left us all too soon,” had barely missed a game throughout his life, and had been the proudest possible parent during his career. He also said his thoughts were with his siblings and wider family. After the announcement, support poured in from across football and broadcasting, with messages from colleagues and former players including Hart, Rooney, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, James Maddison, Juan Mata and others.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15

Micah Richards said his father Lincoln died unexpectedly shortly before he went on air as a BBC pundit for England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina.
On Instagram, the 38-year-old former England right-back called Lincoln his "greatest fan," saying he rarely missed a game and drove him wherever he needed to go as a child.
Richards said he still appeared on the BBC broadcast because his father would have wanted "the show to go on," especially for an England World Cup match that brings families together.
The tribute came as Richards asked people to think of his siblings and wider family while they remember Lincoln, whom he called his hero and inspiration.