Jesse Lingard, the football player, is facing the loss of his grandfather, who passed away while awaiting a retrial for alleged child sex offenses. Kenneth Lingard, 87, was accused of sexually abusing a girl starting from the age of five during his trial at Liverpool Crown Court in 2025. Although the jury acquitted him of two counts of indecent assault, they could not reach verdicts on the remaining 15 counts.

During a hearing on June 15, prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC informed the court of Kenneth Lingard’s passing on June 10, with a death certificate provided. The elderly man, residing in Northway, Warrington, was supposed to undergo a retrial in May, but due to his hospitalization, the proceedings were rescheduled for the following year.

The initial trial revealed that the accuser reported historic allegations to the police in November 2022, following a documentary where Jesse Lingard praised his grandfather’s impact on his career. The woman messaged the footballer after the program aired, accusing Kenneth Lingard of sexual abuse. Lingard, previously associated with Manchester United and the England team but now playing for Corinthians in Brazil, denied any knowledge of the alleged abuse and stated he would have severed ties if aware.

In a recent court session, Judge Katherine Pierpoint noted that with Kenneth Lingard’s passing on June 10, any existing indictments no longer hold legal weight unless proven otherwise. This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing legal saga.