Former England midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed the extraordinary saga of his cat, Bob, who was metaphorically shown the 'red card' by his family after returning home in a 'feral' state and clashing with his sister, Mary.
The unusual story captivated World Cup viewers as Murphy, 49, gradually revealed pieces of the story during his commentary duties.
Murphy first shared the story during the World Cup last-32 clash between Norway and Ivory Coast on 30 June.
During the match in Dallas, Murphy first recounted how his cat, Bob, had vanished after jumping into a Royal Mail van.
This initial revelation sparked considerable interest on social media with some criticism from viewers.
During his next co-commentary stint, for the Spain versus Austria game, Murphy addressed Bob’s fate, explaining that the feline had indeed returned weeks later.
However, his wild behaviour post-disappearance led to him being rehomed with a friend's parents in Preston, where he later passed away.
Murphy provided the final details, including the 'red card' incident, during Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain on Monday night.
“We did try and settle Bob back into the house, but he started bullying and fighting his sister, Mary,” the former Liverpool, Charlton, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn midfielder told viewers.
“We made decision to give him the red card and send him up the road to Preston. I think it was the right decision.”
Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time strike gave Spain a 1-0 win in Dallas and ended Ronaldo’s career-long pursuit of a global title, while also bringing to an end Roberto Martinez’s tenure as Portugal head coach.
In the wake of defeat, Martinez confirmed his own departure after three and a half years in charge during which he led Portugal to Nations League success last summer.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Spaniard said: “It’s true that this is my last game for Portugal.
“I want to thank the Portuguese people. I take with me a memory for a lifetime. The players did an incredible job, they have a lot of talent, and they also showed commitment to having a team.
“I thank the federation, the coaching staff. They worked very hard to help our players. I take with me an incredible memory, and I thank the Portuguese people.”
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