Doku wants to leave Belgium camp for first child’s birth, sparks backlash

Jeremy Doku’s plan to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his first child has become about far more than one player’s family decision. The Manchester City winger, 24, wants to be with his wife, Shireen, when their baby arrives in the second week of July, a timing that could put him at risk of missing a quarter-final if Belgium reach that stage.

Doku has already played 86 minutes in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt and missed the 0-0 meeting with Iran because of illness, but the bigger issue now is whether football’s demands should override a milestone that happens once in a lifetime. Belgian media reported that plans were being prepared for Doku to travel home by private jet, underlining how seriously the Belgium national football team is taking the possibility.

The backlash came after France Pierron of L’Equipe de Choc said on air that a father is “completely useless” during the birth and called Doku’s wish to attend “a disgusting moment.” L’Equipe later said it disassociated itself from her remarks and apologised to Doku and viewers, saying the comments were far from the group’s values. Pierron later apologised on X, saying she regretted the impact of her comments and insisting she had never meant to diminish the role of fathers at the birth of a child.

Support for Doku was swift and broad. England striker Ollie Watkins, who has two children, said no one should describe a birth as disgusting and argued that footballers already spend long stretches away from family during the season. The Professional Footballers’ Association said players should be supported in balancing work with important life events, while the Fatherhood Institute also backed Doku. Its deputy chief executive, Jeremy Davies, said the reaction made him think of “gladiators in the Colosseum” and stressed that some moments matter more than football.

The episode has struck a nerve because it reaches beyond one World Cup camp. Norway’s Leo Ostigard had already marked the birth of his first child during the tournament by video link, with his partner Aurora Eidmann giving birth while he was away with the squad. Between Doku’s case and Ostigard’s, football is being pushed to reckon with a changing expectation: that elite availability does not have to mean family life is treated as secondary.