The father of England and Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has reportedly been sacked from his job as a warehouse worker for Matalan after damaging a vending machine.
Ray Lambert is said to have been escorted out of the Knowsley distribution warehouse by security after accidentally breaking a glass panel in the machine while trying to get a cup of coffee.
A former workmate of the 54-year-old, who spent 10 years working for the company, has described the instant dismissal as a "joke".
The Liverpool Echo quotes the ex-colleague as saying: "Loads of people give that machine a nudge when it doesn't work properly, but to sack him for something as trivial as that was pathetic."
A Matalan spokeswoman is said to have confirmed that Ray was sacked on the basis of "gross misconduct involving substantial damage to company property".
Ray is reportedly due to fly out to Brazil next week with his wife Maureen to support their son in England's World Cup campaign.
Danielle Joynson
