Micah Richards has spoken publicly about the death of his father, Lincoln, and the support he received from BBC presenter Mark Chapman after receiving the news shortly before England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Richards was preparing for the BBC’s live coverage in Atlanta when his brother called to tell him that Lincoln had died unexpectedly. Despite the personal loss, the former England and Manchester City defender continued with his punditry duties alongside Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney. England eventually lost the semi-final 2-1 to Argentina.
Richards Recalls Difficult Moments Before Going Live
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Richards explained that he was unsure how he would manage the broadcast after receiving the news.
According to Richards, Mark Chapman played an important role in helping him through the situation. The BBC presenter spoke with him before the programme and provided support as Richards prepared to appear on television.
Richards later paid tribute to his father, describing him as his biggest fan and remembering the role he played throughout his football career. Lincoln regularly supported his son from his early days in the game and remained an important figure throughout Richards’ time as a professional player.
The former defender had been part of the BBC’s World Cup coverage throughout the tournament. His decision to continue with the broadcast meant he was discussing England’s biggest match of the competition while dealing with a major personal loss.
A Different Chapter in Richards’ Football Career
Richards retired from professional football in 2019 after a career that included Manchester City, Fiorentina and Aston Villa. He also won 13 England caps and represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Since moving into broadcasting, Richards has established himself across several major football platforms. He continues to work with BBC Sport and Sky Sports while also serving as an analyst for CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League coverage.
CBS’ current Champions League team includes Richards alongside Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and presenter Kate Scott. Recent Champions League coverage has continued to feature the former England defender as part of the studio analysis team.
His broadcasting work has also included The Rest Is Football, the podcast he presents with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, where the group discusses major developments across the game.
Richards Continues His Work in Football Media
Richards has remained a prominent figure in football broadcasting during the 2026-27 season. Earlier in September, he was part of CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.
That programme also produced one of Richards’ lighter recent moments when he presented Kylian Mbappe with a poem during the post-match interview. The interaction quickly attracted attention after the Real Madrid forward appeared amused by Richards’ tribute.
For Richards, however, the more significant recent development has been the personal story surrounding his father’s death and the experience of continuing his professional responsibilities immediately afterwards.
His latest comments have provided further insight into the person behind one of football television’s most recognisable personalities, while his broadcasting career continues across the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS.