World Cup pundit Nadia Nadim has revealed she was forced off air on Tuesday after learning that her mother had been hit by a truck and killed.
Former Manchester City forward Nadim was part of ITV's coverage of the goalless draw between Denmark and Tunisia that afternoon. But the 34-year-old Denmark international was absent from the panel at the final whistle, with host Mark Pougatch telling viewers that she had been forced to leave.
On Wednesday, Nadim revealed the tragic news about her mother Hamida on Twitter. She said: "[On] Tuesday morning my mother was killed by a truck. She was on her way back from the gym. Words cannot describe what I'm feeling. I have lost the most important person in my life and it happened so sudden and unexpected. She was only 57.
"She was a warrior who had fought for every inch of her life. She didn't give me life once but twice, and everything I/we are is because of her. I have lost my home and I know nothing's gonna ever feel the same. Life is unfair and I don't understand why her and why this way. I love you and I will see you again."
The Dane has a remarkable story: born and raised in Afghanistan, her life changed in the blink of an eye when the Taliban stopped her going to school aged 11 and then murdered her father, an Afghan National Army general, in 2000. Thanks to her mum, Nadia and her four sisters fled Afghanistan and settled in Denmark where they were granted asylum.
Nadia then fell in love with football at a refugee camp. She played her 100th match for Denmark in June 2022 and has scored 38 goals during her international career.
She speaks nine languages, and qualified as a reconstruction surgeon in January 2022 after five years of studying to become a doctor.
An ITV spokesperson said: "Everyone at ITV, those working with Nadia in Qatar, and the wider company, is deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic news. We have offered Nadia our support and our thoughts are with her and those closest to her at this incredibly difficult time."
