ITV pundit Nadia Nadim leaves World Cup broadcaster’s coverage after mother’s death

DUBAI: Danish-Afghan Nadia Nadim, former footballer and current pundit with ITV, rushed from the broadcaster’s coverage of the Denmark and Tunisia World Cup clash after hearing that her mother had been killed in an accident. The ex-Manchester City player left before full time during Tuesday’s game, the BBC reported on Thursday. Nadim took to Instagram to announce that her mother had been hit and killed by a truck on her way back from the gym.

She wrote: “Words cannot describe what I’m feeling. I have lost the most important person in my life and it was 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 going to 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 former Denmark Women’s striker has been providing analysis for ITV in Qatar and was on the panel for her nation’s goalless draw with Tunisia in Group D. Viewers noticed she failed to appear to discuss the match at the final whistle, and ITV announced she had to leave the ground early.

The 34-year-old was born in Afghanistan and her family fled to Denmark after her father, an army general, was executed by the Taliban in 2000. Nadim played for Portland Thorns, and Paris St-Germain, in addition to Manchester City, and scored 38 goals in 103 games for Denmark.