Shortly before commentating on England's World Cup semi-final, Richards received the devastating news of his father's passing. After the program, he posted a heartfelt tribute to his father.
Former England defender Richards was a special guest commentator, sitting in the studio to provide commentary on England's 1-2 defeat to Argentina.
Shortly before Richards went on air for the live broadcast, he suddenly learned of the tragic passing of his father, Lincoln. Despite his immense grief, the former Premier League player insisted on completing the entire broadcast commentary.
After the program ended, he wrote an article to mourn his father's sudden death.
Richards posted a childhood photo with his father, captioned:
"Not long after I appeared on the show today, I received devastating news—my father, Lincoln, has passed away."
His passing was so sudden; he left us far too soon. He was my most loyal supporter, never missing a single one of my matches from childhood to adulthood.
When I was a child, he would pick me up and drop me off wherever I went for training or matches; after I embarked on my professional football career, he became the proudest parent in the world.
He was almost always by my side, and it was extremely rare for him to miss my games.
I know that countless fans are watching England's World Cup matches from home. Football transcends generations and brings families together, and this significance is irreplaceable.
My father is a traditional Yorkshireman and a very strong-willed man. I believe he would have wanted tonight's program to go on as scheduled, so I insisted on finishing the commentary.
At this moment, my thoughts are with my brothers, sisters, and all my relatives, as we remember my father, Lincoln, who was my hero, my role model, and my source of strength throughout my life.
