Manchester City and Belgium winger Jeremy Doku found himself at the centre of an unforeseen controversy after choosing to fly home for the birth of his first child. Doku, 24, departed the Belgium World Cup camp to be with his wife, Shireen, in the UK for the arrival of their son, Praise. This decision, though sanctioned by the Belgian national team, drew criticism from some quarters, notably a French television presenter whose comments quickly sparked widespread condemnation.
The initial explanation for Doku's absence from Belgium's 0-0 draw against Iran was illness, following his 86 minutes played in their opening 1-1 draw with Egypt. However, it was later revealed that he had travelled to the UK for the birth. A statement from the Belgium national team confirmed: "With the approval of and accompanied by one of our team doctors, Jeremy travelled to London to be with his wife for this unique occasion." Doku was expected to rejoin the squad in Seattle as preparations continued for their next match against New Zealand.
The criticism stemmed from comments made by France Pierron, a presenter on L'Equipe channel, who suggested a father is "completely useless" during childbirth, labelling it a "disgusting moment". L'Equipe swiftly apologised for Pierron's remarks, stating they were "very far removed" from the channel's values. Pierron also apologised, and L'Equipe confirmed she would remain off-air until the end of her show's current season on 3 July.
The reaction from within football and wider society was overwhelmingly supportive of Doku. England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, voiced his backing, stating, "It only happens once - welcoming your first child to the world - and it is a blessing." He emphasised the difficulty of being away from family during the season and understood Doku's desire not to miss such a significant event. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) echoed this sentiment, asserting that demands on players should not come at the expense of "fundamental family moments" and advocating for support in balancing professional duties with important life events.
Jeremy Davies, deputy chief executive of The Fatherhood Institute, which champions men as active fathers, also weighed in, drawing a comparison between players and "gladiators in the Colosseum." He highlighted that while players are well-compensated, some life events hold far greater value than financial reward. This incident has brought into focus the disparity in professional sport regulations; while FIFA mandates a minimum of 14 weeks' paid maternity leave for female footballers, there are no specific stipulations for paternity leave in the men's game, leaving individual players and clubs to navigate these crucial personal milestones.