Former England soccer star and World Cup commentator Micah Richards revealed he learned his father had died just moments before going on the air for Wednesday's semifinal.
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Despite the devastating news, Richards chose to continue with his broadcasting duties during the BBC's coverage of England's semifinal against Argentina, saying it's what his father would have wanted.
In an emotional Instagram post after the match, Richards shared that his father, Lincoln Richards, died unexpectedly shortly before the broadcast.
"Not long before going on air today, I received the awful news that my father Lincoln had passed away," Richards wrote. "His death was unexpected, and he has left us all too soon."
Richards, 38, described his father as his "greatest fan," recalling how he rarely missed one of his games while helping him pursue his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
Courtesy Micah Richards/Instagram
"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 wrote.
The former Manchester City defender explained that he decided to remain on the broadcast because he believed his father would have wanted him to carry on.
"Dad would've wanted the show to go on," Richards wrote, adding that World Cup matches have a unique way of bringing families together across generations.
Richards concluded the tribute by calling his father his "hero and inspiration."
In addition to serving as one of the BBC's World Cup analysts, Richards is also a regular soccer commentator for CBS Sports and co-host of The Rest Is Football.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the semifinal to advance to the World Cup final against Spain.
