Jeremy Doku had already missed Belgium’s 0-0 draw against Iran, officially listed as ill, but the truth emerged on Monday: he had flown to London to be with his wife Shireen, who gave birth to a boy called Praise. The Manchester City winger, 24, was accompanied by a team doctor and travelled with the approval of the Belgian federation. “Everything went perfectly, and the mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully,” the team doctor, Brahim Hacene, said in a statement. Doku will rejoin the squad on Tuesday evening in Seattle as preparations continue for the next match against New Zealand.
Doku’s decision had already provoked criticism before he left the World Cup camp. Last week he told reporters that Shireen was due to give birth in the second week of July, and should Belgium still be in the tournament by then, he was hoping to go home. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child,” he said. France Pierron, a presenter with L’Équipe, did not agree. On Friday she said: “You’re living out a childhood dream, yet you’re going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child – a disgusting moment, if you’ll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless. He just holds your hand and takes a photo.”
“Jérémy Doku flew home for his son's birth, sparking backlash from a presenter; L'Équipe apologised.”
Pierron’s remarks went viral, and the backlash was swift. L’Équipe issued an apology, saying her comments were “very far removed” from its values, and confirmed she would remain off-air until the end of the current season of her show on 3 July. Pierron herself apologised. But the criticism had not come from her alone. One of Doku’s former youth coaches, Peter Janssens, told Belgian news site VRT: “It may sound harsh, but if you’ve chosen to be there, you’ve chosen to play. The baby will still be there afterwards.” The former Belgium international Gert Verheyen seemed to mock the decision, asking what Doku would do while his wife was giving birth.
Yet voices from across the football world lined up behind Doku. England striker Ollie Watkins, who has two children, said: “I think someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that’s not a way to label a birth. It only happens once – welcoming your first child to the world – and it is a blessing.” The Professional Footballers’ Association said demands placed on players should not be at the expense of “fundamental family moments”. Doku, who played 86 minutes in Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt, missed only the Iran match. He will now rejoin his teammates, a father for the first time, with the squad preparing to face New Zealand in Seattle.