The criticism came swift and sharp. France Pierron, a presenter on L'Equipe channel, called a father "completely useless" at the time of his child's birth, describing the moment as "disgusting". Her target was Jeremy Doku, the Manchester City winger who said he wants to leave Belgium's World Cup camp to be at the birth of his first child next month.
Within hours, the backlash was as united as it was emphatic. L'Equipe apologised, saying Pierron's comments were "very far removed" from its values. The presenter herself apologised, and reports in France said she would not present her show on Monday. But the sport's response carried the real weight.
“Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku wants to leave Belgium's World Cup squad for his child's birth, sparking criticism now widely condemned.”
Doku, 24, joined City from Rennes in 2023 for £55.4m. He played 86 minutes of Belgium's opening 1-1 draw with Egypt but missed their 0-0 stalemate against Iran because of illness. His wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July, which could mean Doku missing a quarter-final if Belgium progress that far.
"If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child," Doku told Reuters. "But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do."
England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, backed him unequivocally. "I think someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that's not a way to label a birth," Watkins said. "I've seen what my wife had to go through... It only happens once - welcoming your first child to the world - and it is a blessing."
The Professional Footballers' Association made its position clear. "While every situation is different, we believe players should be supported in balancing their professional responsibilities with important life events," a PFA spokesperson said. "Supporting players as people, not just athletes, is an important part of creating a healthy professional working environment."
Even the Fatherhood Institute weighed in. Deputy chief executive Jeremy Davies told BBC Sport: "It makes me think of gladiators in the Colosseum. We want these men to be these heroic figures who exist for our entertainment. They get paid lots of money but there are some things that are worth a lot more."
Doku's decision remains uncertain. But the message from football is clear: some moments transcend the game.