on 24 april 2009, his 26-year-old half-brother, jade defoe, died of head injuries following an assault in leytonstone, london. on 7 june 2012, his father, jimmy defoe, died after a long battle with throat cancer. defoe was with the england squad ahead of uefa euro 2012 at the time, and returned home from poland upon receiving the news, but rejoined the squad on 9 june, two days before the opening match and played against france as a 77th-minute substitute.